hoover minthorn house

It's tiny, but illuminating about the early life of Herbert Hoover. I find these places fascinating; and it doesn't seem to get a lot of traffic so you can relax and take your time.

Herbert Hoover's reputation was ruined by the Great Depression. But you'll be impressed by his many accomplishments, especially when you visit this simple Quaker home where he lived with his uncle, Dr. Minthorn. After being orphaned in Iowa, young Herbert Hoover was sent from relative to relative until his uncle invited him to Oregon. The 11-year-old rode alone for the 8-day train ride west to the family that would give him a home and provide him with the educational and emotional foundations to rise to America's top office. When you step into the house, you'll get a good picture of 1880's life in rural Oregon. The curator, Rose, will give you a fabulous tour of the home and garden. She is a wealth of information and includes all the personal touches, like how Herbert's favorite cousin, Tennessee, a tomboy who didn't follow traditional female role expectations, taught him how to play baseball.The warmth and love of this family comes through in all the personal belongings of the Minthorns that are still in the home. Even Dr. Minthorn's chair is there - the one the children were never allowed to sit in. On Hoover's 81st birthday, he came to the house for it's dedication as a museum and had his photo taken, sitting in that chair. You can see the satisfied look on his face. The museum has very limited hours and a tiny admission fee. Be sure you check to be sure it's open. There are narrow stairs and it is not designed to be accessible to wheelchairs. If you are in N.W. Oregon, take the time to visit. You'll get a new appreciation for this much-maligned president. I visited with a class of 5th-graders. They were so interested that we stayed longer, into our lunch time, so that we could hear more stories. Thank you, Rose, for making Hoover's life so warm and personal for my students.