Hoover-Minthorn House Museum

Hoover-Minthorn House Museum | Newberg, Oregon

The Hoover-Minthorn House Museum in Newberg, Oregon is the only presidential home in the Northwest. It is the boyhood home of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States from 1929 to 1933.

Orphaned at the age of nine, Hoover was sent by relatives from his birthplace in West Branch, Iowa to live in Newberg, Oregon with his maternal aunt and uncle, Dr. and Mrs. Henry John Minthorn and their daughters.

He arrived in November 1885 and was a student at the newly founded Friends Pacific Academy. He worked at chores, attended Sunday School, and went fishing, swimming, and played baseball.

Herbert Hoover at Dedication of House

In September 1888, Hoover moved with the Minthorns to Salem where he worked as an office boy for his uncle’s land company. In 1891, he left Oregon to attend the newly organized Stanford University.

Beginning in 1947, the house was restored under a foundation formed by Burt Brown Barker, who collected furnishings, including the original bedroom furniture used by Hoover, in the Newberg area. Herbert Hoover dedicated the Hoover-Minthorn House on his 81st birthday, August 10, 1955. In 1981, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Oregon took over ownership and operation of the Museum.

Herbert Hoover Bedroom

Special events include participation in the annual exhibit at the Willamette Heritage Center, Camellia Day in April, the annual exhibit during May and June, Old Fashioned Days in July, and Herbert Hoover’s Birthday on August 10.

The Chehalem Park and Recreation District maintain the grounds and the Chehalem Garden Club have developed the herb garden. Several Hoover roses are planted along the fence in front of the herb garden. The grounds also include the original well, an outhouse, the historic pear tree, and a variety of other fruit trees – apple, pear, plum and prune – and old fashioned lilacs, wisteria, and other plants.

President Herbert Hoover Giving Speech

The Little House is no longer used as a caretaker’s home and has been transformed into an education center, collections storage, and archives.

School groups can come to the Little House for an orientation before touring the Museum. Exhibits may be installed to tell about Hoover’s adult life and contributions and the story of the restoration of the Museum.

Volunteers are always welcome to give tours, set up exhibits, organize special events, perform curatorial duties, and work in the garden.