News Release

Celebrate "A Christmas Past"

You are viewing ARCHIVED content

This content was published online before January 20, 2025. Please note that this content is NOT UPDATED, and links may not work. For current information, visit https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/index.htm.

Historic Downey Street illuminated for "A Christmas Past"

National Park Service

News Release Date: November 14, 2022
Contact: Randall Becker, 319-643-2541

West Branch, IA –The birthplace of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States, will host “A Christmas Past” December 2nd and 3rd. The festivities will officially begin with a community tree-lighting on the Village Green at 5:00 p.m. on December 2nd. For a complete schedule of the weekend’s activities: www.mainstreetwestbranch.org/christmaspast. 

Take a step back in time as you stroll through the park’s historic neighborhood decorated and illuminated in period-appropriate, festive style. Warm up next to a good ole-fashioned bonfire adjacent to the Hayrack Stage where you can enjoy the talents of various student groups from the West Branch Community School District who will indulge the crowd with plenty of traditional holiday music, Friday 6-9pm and Saturday 5:30-9pm. And be sure to stop by the park’s blacksmith shop for living history demonstrations both nights from 5:30-8:30pm.  

The following programs will be offered Friday and Saturday night, inside the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site’s visitor center:   

• 6:00pm: PBS nature documentary “Christmas in Yellowstone” (running length/55 minutes) 

• 7:00pm: A park ranger program on the many ways that Herbert Hoover celebrated Christmas throughout his long life. 

• 8:00pm: PBS nature documentary “Christmas in Yellowstone” 

• 5:30pm – 8:30: Family-friendly traditional paper and button arts and crafts – fun for all ages! 

 www.nps.gov  

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for the more than 400 parks in the National Park System and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice

RSS Feed | What is RSS?