Steamtown NHS

Steam locomotives excited the senses and Steamtown works to keep their stories alive!

you'd feel heat from the firebox, smell hot steam and oil; you'd hear the whistle, feel the ground vibrate, and watch as one-ton drive rods turned steel wheels. Remember the sound of "chuff-chuff" from the smokestack? Today, you can learn the history of steam railroad transportation, and the people who built, repaired and rode, as we work to preserve a special era in America's industrial history! 

July 27, 2019
This was a great park to take in. We had our entire family from New Jersey with us for this park. If you are a train nut like me this is the place to go. I could spend days here exploring - okay maybe weeks. Grand kids got there first Junior Ranger books, and we learned that it takes longer to explore when you have them working on their books, that is a good thing for us as we really get to slow down and take more in. We took a couple of small train excursions in the train yard and explored all we could. The grand kids finished their books and got there First badge. We hope this starts there NPS exploring bug, we will see after this trip. We are putting this one on the return list just because I love trains.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 139th NPS Unit

Herbert Hoover NHS

To Look Forward with Unbounded Hope:

Orphaned at age nine, Herbert Hoover left West Branch never to live here again. In later years, he returned to his humble birthplace to celebrate his long career of public service. A memorial landscape remains to tell his story: how community, hard work, honesty, and usefulness to others opened a world of opportunity— and the presidency of the United States— to a child of simple beginnings. 

July 21, 2010

A stop here on the way home from a cross-country trip. I did not know much about Herbert Hoover, so this was a very educational stop. Like so many Presidents he did more after office then in. Much to see and take in here.

July 20, 2019
This was a revisit for me and the first time for my wife. Took in the Visitor Center and a movie on Herbert Hoover's life here in West Branch. We then took a walk to take in the buildings and homes that are preserved here. After seeing what there is to see we headed to the Presidential Library. This is where you truly learn about his life and Presidency. After a few hours at the Presidential Library, we drove up to the grave site and took that in.

Click here for photos of our visit on July 20 2019

NPS Webpage

Our 55th NPS Unit