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Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will temporarily close the Schoolhouse beginning on July 9, 2007 while lead paint is removed from its exterior.

The deteriorated exterior paint on the West Branch Schoolhouse is beyond its life cycle and has failed. The lead based paint is peeling and chipping and presents a health hazard. The removal of deteriorated exterior lead-based paint will mitigate an employee and visitor hazard. The lead paint removal is part of ongoing park-wide abatement projects and requires the removal of all layers of deteriorated, peeling, and chipping exterior paint. Once the exterior paint is removed, the Schoolhouse will be repainted. The interior exhibits will reopen once the repainting begins, but may occasionally close as needed for the safe completion of the project. The project will last through the end of July.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience to our visitors during the temporary closure, but the project is a high priority for the park to ensure visitor and employee safety,” explained park Superintendent Cheryl A. Schreier. “We look forward to the completion of the project and encourage our visitors to enjoy the beautiful grounds and other attractions at the site.”

Built in 1853, the Schoolhouse is the oldest building at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. By the time Herbert Hoover enrolled in school, a new school had been built, but the one-room Schoolhouse continued to serve the primary grades (or first, second, and third grades).

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 of I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.