The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is preparing to reopen following a period of renovations aimed at updating exhibits and improving visitor experience. The library is expected to reopen in summer 2026, but an exact date has not been determined. The building has been closed since January 2025. 

According to their website, the West Branch library is dedicated to the life and legacy of former President Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States. The site has been closed as construction crews work on modernizing gallery spaces, upgrading infrastructure, and installing new displays.

The project is  part of an effort to refresh how Hoover’s story is presented and add an emphasis on former First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. 

Thomas Schwartz, director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, said the renovations are designed to make the museum more accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages. 

Schwartz said a decrease in funding is tied to a larger challenge facing the National Archives and Records Administration, the organization that manages presidential libraries. Through the government, renovation cycles depend on federal appropriations, donations campaigns, and other sources of funding, rather than consistent long-term funding. 

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The budget for the project is $20.3 million, and Schwartz said the project is funded by the Hoover Presidential Foundation through grants and donations.

With the funding, the library has gone through multiple attempted or partial renovations over the years. The delayed projects contributed to the extended closure of the library, as renovations accumulated over the years instead of being carried out in a continuous phase. 

Updates to the library and museum include redesigned exhibit layouts and improved displays to highlight Hoover’s humanitarian work, presidency during the Great Depression, and post-presidency public service.

“Hoover’s approach to philanthropy was simple,” Schwartz said. “Your leadership should not make people feel indebted to you, but rather make people feel empowered to become leaders themselves.”

Schwartz said once reopened, the museum will resume its role as a cultural and educational destination in Iowa. He said the town of West Branch also economically benefits from the library and museum. 

Adam Kofoed, city administrator for the City of West Branch, projects the reopening will attract 100,000 and 200,000 visitors annually, based on visitor numbers from previous years.

“Having more visitors in town kind of changes the dynamic of how people interact with each other,” Kofoed said. “Residents or tourists from out of town are not as afraid to talk about their story and why they’re here.”

Kofoed said small businesses in West Branch have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the library, as the hundreds of thousands of visitors passing through the town will provide an economic boom for the town. 

The anticipation extends beyond just city officials. Students at the University of Iowa have been working with Main Street West Branch, the downtown district for the City of West Branch, to position the town as a potential destination for visitors once the library reopens. 

Tyler Horn, a UI fourth-year student, has been working on a project highlighting West Branch as an overlooked spot just outside of Iowa City, particularly for college students looking for a short getaway. The reopening of the library is expected to serve as a key draw in that effort. 

“We’ve been trying to position West Branch as a travel destination,” Horn said. “With the Hoover Library reopening, it gives people a reason to come, and then hopefully they explore downtown and local businesses while they’re there.” 

Horn said the project emphasizes the town’s walkable Main Street, locally owned shops, and vintage stores as attractions that could appeal to students seeking a low-cost day trip.

“A lot of students get stuck in their routines in Iowa City,” Horn said. “West Branch can be a small getaway, even just for a couple of hours.”