aka Lou Henry Hoover House

Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover fell in love with each other and with Palo Alto, California, while studying at Stanford University. Their love affair with Palo Alto continued after their graduations, and it was there that they built their only permanent home.

Designed by Lou Henry Hoover, the 5,000-square-foot, irregularly-shaped house rises two stories in the front and three stories in the rear. Construction began in 1919, and was completed in June 1920.

The Hoovers had barely had time to "break the house in" when Herbert was appointed Secretary of Commerce by President Warren G. Harding in 1921, a role he continued under President Calvin Coolidge. It was in the home that the Hoover family awaited the results of the 1928 and 1932 presidential elections, but otherwise their residency was sporadic. They returned to the house after Herbert Hoover left the White House, while maintaining a New York apartment as a second residence.

After Lou's death in 1944, Herbert deeded the house to Stanford University for use as a residence for professors. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985, the home is now the official residence of the president of Stanford University and is not open to the public.

LINK OF INTEREST
National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/santaclara/hoo.htm

SEE ALSO
President Warren G. Harding
President Calvin Coolidge

Questions or comments about this page?

This page was last updated on May 24, 2017.