Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
West Branch in Cedar County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
 

From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue

— Herbert Hoover National Historic Site —

 
 
From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Connor Olson, July 26, 2020
1. From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue Marker
Inscription.
Herbert Clark Hoover was born on August 10, 1874, in this two-room cottage. He spent his early boyhood years on the edge of the village Surrounded by farmland. His parents, relatives, and many neighbors were Quakers whose daily lives were centered on their face beliefs.

Herbert's mother Hulda tended to him and his siblings, Theodore and Mary. She also served as a recorded minister in the Quaker meeting. Jesse, a devoted father, worked hard as a blacksmith and businessman. Together they played major roles in forming the character of the boy who would become the 31st President of the United States.

My grandparents and parents came here in a covered wagon the most formative years of my boyhood were spent here. My roots are in the soil.
Herbert Hoover

Captions:
Tour of the interior of Hovver's birth place across the street.
The park is a commemorative landscape conceived by the Hoover family, the Hoover birthplace Society, and the National Park Service.
How has the street changed? From the bridge to a hotel on Main Street, this illustration shows the South Downey Street neighborhood as it was during Herbert Hoover's boyhood.
Birthplace Cottage Built 1871 by Herbert's father Jesse and grandfather Eli.
Jesse Hoover's Blacksmith Shop Original 1871 shop faced Downey Street
Methodist Church built 1870, razed 1913, historic house moved here
Garvin House Built 1872
Crook's Hotel Built 1870.

 
Erected by National
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
Park Service, Department of the Interior.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational AreasReligion & Religious StructuresSettlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #31 Herbert Hoover series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 10, 1874.
 
Location. 41° 40.222′ N, 91° 20.794′ W. Marker is in West Branch, Iowa, in Cedar County. It is on South Downey Street near Penn Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Branch IA 52358, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Herbert Hoover (a few steps from this marker); Birthplace Cottage (a few steps
From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 17, 2023
2. From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue Marker
from this marker); A World of Opportunity (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of Herbert Hoover (within shouting distance of this marker); C.E. Smith House (within shouting distance of this marker); Varney House (within shouting distance of this marker); Leech House (within shouting distance of this marker); Forging Character (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Branch.
 
Other markers no longer nearby. Herbert Hoover's Birthplace (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Hannah Varney House (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The C.E. Smith House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Dr. Leech House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
 
Also see . . .
1. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 29, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (National Park Service).
From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 19, 2025
3. From Downey Street to Pennsylvania Avenue Marker
Herbert Hoover's birthplace cottage is in the background.
(Submitted on July 29, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on December 22, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.   2. submitted on August 20, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas.   3. submitted on July 29, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
m=163144

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jul. 27, 2026