Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - Statue of Isis (U.S. National Park Service)

Bronze statue of a seated Egyptian goddess on a marble block with autumn foliage in the background.

NPS PHOTO

The Statue of Isis faces the Herbert Hoover Birthplace, and provides a visual connection between his upbringing and his later achievements.

Bronze statue of a seated, veiled Egyptian goddess against the blue sky and trees of fall foliage.

NPS photo

"Isis, Goddess of Life" by Auguste Puttemans

Statue of Isis

The people of Belgium gave the bronze statue of Isis, ancient Egyptian goddess of life, to Herbert Hoover for his work on their behalf during the First World War. At the start of the war, Herbert organized and directed the Commission for Relief in Belgium which helped feed millions of people in Belgium and northern France and saved countless lives.

Belgian children, refugees, and soldiers contributed to a fund to create a work of art to honor Herbert Hoover. Belgian sculptor Auguste Puttemans cast Isis and shipped it to the United States in 1922. The statue was on the campus of Stanford University in California until President and Mrs. Hoover moved it to overlook the Birthplace Cottage in 1939.

Accessibility

The Statue of Isis is on a paved walkway between the historic core area and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. An audio station is at the drinking fountain nearby.

Take a Virtual Tour

This is a stop on the virtual tour of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

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