Celebrate "A Christmas Past" in the Hometown of the 31st President, December 5 and 6

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– West Branch, Iowa, the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States, will host "A Christmas Past" events from Friday, December 5 until Saturday, December 6. The festivities officially begin with a tree-lighting on the Village Green at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6. For a complete schedule of the weekend's activities, visit www.mainstreetwestbranch.org.

To emphasize Herbert Hoover's history for feeding those in need, donations of nonperishable items will be accepted for the West Branch Food Pantry at the Visitor Center and at the Presidential Library and Museum.

Horse-drawn wagon rides on Friday and Saturday evenings start at 5:30 p.m. from the Visitor Center of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The rides take visitors through the historic site and historic downtown West Branch.  The last wagon rides begin at 8:00 p.m.

A park ranger will demonstrate the art and craft of blacksmithing in the Blacksmith Shop on Friday and Saturday nights until 8:30 p.m. Try snowshoeing with a ranger on Main Street next to the U.S. Post Office Friday and Saturday nights between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The park has some snowshoes to lend, or bring your own. Historical interpreter Sarah S. Uthoff will appear in character as Laura Ingalls Wilder telling historic stories in the Visitor Center on Friday at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. For more information about programs and activities at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site call (319) 643-2541.

Visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum's annual holiday exhibit of Christmas trees. Each of this year's 20 trees will represent one of Shakespeare's plays.

Also at the Presidential Library and Museum, The Young Footliters will perform A Seussified Christmas Carol on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Performances are free and there is no reserve seating. The Uncalled Four quartet will sing Christmas carols in the rotunda Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information about programs and activities at Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum call (319) 643-5301.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS