Herbert Hoover National Historic Site continues to update facilities and programs for greater accessibility. Please contact us with your accessibility questions or concerns.

Parking

Designated handicapped parking spaces are available in all parking lots. Those spaces are reserved for vehicles which are properly marked with a handicapped license plate or government-issued hang-tag.

Service animals

Service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs, are allowed in buildings while performing their work.

Walkways

The historic nature of the site may make visiting difficult for people with disabilities. While most of the ground around the historic buildings is level, wooden boardwalks may be slippery when wet, please watch your step. If you plan to tour the historic buildings, it is advised to bring someone to assist you. A wheelchair may be available for loan from the Visitor Center or the Presidential Library & Museum.

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center and its restrooms are handicapped-accessible. Visitors may borrow a wheelchair, scripts of audio stations, and photo albums of non-accessible buildings. The 12-minute film is open-captioned.

Birthplace Cottage

There are three entrance steps to the front door. A wheelchair ramp allows visitors access to the back porch and through the back door. 

From November through March, the Birthplace Cottage may be entered only through the front door. An audio station is available inside the front door.

Blacksmith Shop

A wooden boardwalk and a ramp lead into the Blacksmith Shop. Audio stations are located both outside and inside the shop.

Schoolhouse

A ramp leads to the entrance of the Schoolhouse. You must pass over a small lip to get through the door. The audio station is on the inside wall. A photo album of the interior is available at the Visitor Center upon request.

Friends Meetinghouse

The front entrance to the Friends Meetinghouse is wheelchair accessible, though the doorways may be too narrow for some wheelchairs. The back porch and inside walking surfaces may be slippery when wet. An audio station is at the entrance of the Meetinghouse.

Statue of Isis

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.

House of the Maples (Second Hoover Home) and P.T. Smith House

The site of the House of the Maples is not handicapped accessible, but may be approached on the gravel trace of Downey Street. The interpretive marker is on a grass lawn.

The P.T. Smith House is not open to the public, but may be approached on the gravel trace of Downey Street.

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

The Presidential Library and Museum has no steps. The museum galleries, gift shop, water fountain, and restrooms are all wheelchair accessible. The movie is close captioned and wheelchair seating is available in the back row. Portions of the permanent exhibits are available on captioned video.

Tallgrass Prairie

Prairie trails are mowed grass over rolling hills. An asphalt walkway leads to the prairie trailhead from the Presidential Library and Museum. The incline is steep and assistance will be necessary for those in wheelchairs. An audio station is at the Gravesite area parking lot. Some prairie plants grow along the sidewalk approaching the gravesite.

Isaac Miles Farmstead

Access to the Miles Farmstead is by the Tallgrass Prairie trails, which are mowed grass. The buildings of the farmstead are not open to the public.

Gravesite

A paved walkway leads to the graves of President and Mrs. Hoover. The incline is steep. Assistance is recommended for those in wheelchairs. An audio station is at the Gravesite parking lot.

Picnic shelters

The West (Boy Scout) and East picnic shelters are on the north side of the Hoover Creek. Parking for people with disabilities is on the south side of the creek. Visitors can get to the shelters from the parking area by crossing the foot bridge over the creek.

The West Picnic Shelter is accessible by a paved trail; the East Picnic Shelter is accessible by grass. A comfort station by the west shelter has one wheelchair-accessible stall. A one-inch threshold must be crossed to enter.

Hoover Creek

Hoover Creek may be viewed from the footbridges near the Birthplace Cottage and the Picnic Shelters, both of which are wheelchair accessible.

The creek bank areas below ground level, including the areas beneath all bridges are closed to public use. Except for official activities, walking and climbing on the creek banks is prohibited.

Village Green

Picnic facilities are available in the Village Green. Handicapped parking is available in the Water Street parking lot. A paved sidewalk leads to a drinking fountain and some picnic tables.