New exhibit at Hoover Museum honors timeless toys

WEST BRANCH — Growing up, most people had a favorite toy.

Whether it was a toy truck, a doll or even a stick from the backyard, seeing that toy ignites a sense of nostalgia for anyone, no matter their age.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum hopes to tap into that feeling with its latest exhibit.

'Timeless Toys at Christmas,' opens Saturday and continues through Jan. 2. The exhibit features 20 Christmas trees, each decorated with a different toy theme, including Teddy Bears, Barbies and Lincoln Logs. A full list of the 20 toy-themed trees can be found on the museum's website at hoover.archives.gov.

The museum, located on 210 Parkside Drive in West Branch, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

The trees line the walls of the main gallery, and the middle section is to be open for various games and activities for visitors, said Melanie Wier, assistant curator at the museum who is in charge of the exhibit. These games include oversized checkers, Twister and Candyland.

'That way, it's just a fun, playful setup,' Wier said.

While the Christmas tree exhibit is an annual museum feature, this year's toy theme is brand-new.

'Last year was the first year we didn't have (an exhibit),' Wier said. 'The previous year it was Shakespeare. So just to kind of flip it around, we wanted to do something more playful, Christmassy and nostalgic.'

The annual Christmas tree exhibit has been around since 1990. Wier said over the last five years, the event has drawn about 7,400 visitors.

Wier said the museum also tries to tie its Christmas exhibits to former President Herbert Hoover, and this year's was partially inspired by The White House Historical Association's official 2016 White House Christmas ornament. The ornament is a firetruck to honor Hoover, who served from 1929 to 1933.

Hoover, the only Iowa-born president, was in office when the West Wing of the White House caught fire on Christmas Eve, 1929. The next year, Hoover's wife, former First Lady Lou Hoover, handed out toy fire trucks — hence the museum's tree decorated with fire trucks.

The Hoover ornament, as well as ornaments representing the trees on display in Timeless Toys at Christmas, are to be on sale in the museum gift shop.

Wier said she expects individuals of all ages to stop by to see the trees.

'It'll be interesting because adults get a kick out of it, too,' she said. 'I think everyone's just excited about this exhibit, and I think that'll be fun because everyone had a favorite toy.'

For Wier, her favorite is the Clue tree, which is a nod to the murder mystery board game and the tree decoration with the most variety.

'It's definitely the most complex one out there,' she said.

There also are two additional trees set up in the gallery; the 21st tree is decorated by the Cedar Valley Chapter of The Embroiderers' Guild of American and the 22nd honors a museum staff member who died this year.

IF YOU GO

Here's what you need to know to visit the newest Christmas exhibit at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

What: Timeless Toys at Christmas

Where: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch

Dates: Nov. 19 through Jan. 2

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Cost: Admission is $10 for those ages 16-61; $5 for those age 62 or older, as well as military members and college students; $3 for children ages 6-15; free for children 5 and younger.

Free Admission: During West Branch's Christmas Post event, which begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and continues throughout the day on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Info: (319) 643-5301 or hoover.archives.gov