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| Landmark #913 | Santa Clara County | Visited: August 27, 2016 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The former home of President and Mrs. Hoover! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This 1919 residence, a unique blend of pueblo and international style elements, embodies Mrs. Herbert Hoover’s innovative architectural concepts. It was executed by architects A. B. Clark, Charles Davis, and Birge Clark, and was maintained as the Hoover family home from 1920 to 1944, it was here that Hoover received news of his election as President of the United States in 1928. Upon Mrs. Hoover’s death, the house was given to Stanford University.
OTHER TIDBITS: Before she was Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Lou Henry was an unconventional girl with a love of athletics and the outdoors! She was a hunter, camper, and equestrian, who was profoundly interested in geology and architecture. Plus, she spoke five languages: Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and French! Herbert Hoover was her professor’s assistant at Stanford. They were both from Iowa and loved the outdoors and mining. They married at Mission San Carlos Borromeo and moved to China, where Herbert was to be Director General of the Department of Mines of the Chinese Government! During the Boxer Rebellion, Lou built protective barricades and managed a local cattle herd to make sure kids still got their dairy during the conflict! Before becoming First Lady, Lou and her husband traveled the world on mining assignments, basing out of London. During World War I, she took the lead with the American Women’s War Relief Fund and Hospital, Commission for Relief in Belgium, and head of the Women’s Committee under Woodrow Wilson! She was National Commissioner for the newly formed Girl Scouts of America and set a precedent that every future First Lady would become honorary president of the organization. During her husband’s presidency, she led the way in radio communication with the public, creating the first presidential retreat, and pushing, like no First Lady before her, for hiring equality in the workplace and an end to the stigma of being seen in public while pregnant! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS:
ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~358mi (577km) — 6hrs |
| When should I go? | You can visit the plaque and exterior any time you like, but the house is still a private residence and not open to tours! |
