Founded by Herbert Hoover in 1919, the Hoover Institution Library & Archives is dedicated to documenting war, revolution, and peace in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. With nearly one million volumes and more than six thousand archival collections from 171 countries, Hoover supports a vibrant community of scholars and a broad public interested in the meaning and role of history.

The Hoover Institution Library & Archives is located on the campus of Stanford University and is situated southeast of the Stanford Oval. 

A major part of the Library & Archives’ collections are only accessible within the reading room, located in the Herbert Hoover Memorial Building or in the Washington DC office (digital content only). Visitors can also view portions of the collections while they are on display in the exhibition galleries and rotunda within Hoover Tower. At the top of the Tower sits the Lou Henry Hoover Carillon and Observation Deck. The historic Belgian carillon can be heard throughout the Stanford campus and is visible while visiting the observation deck, which offers panoramic views of Stanford University and the surrounding area. 

Please review the current access requirements and hours of operation for the reading room or attraction before you plan your visit.

Please also review our reopen status and updates web page for additional information regarding access to Hoover Institution Library & Archives facilities.

For more information, go to the Hoover Institution’s Map and Directions web page or Stanford University’s Visitor Information website. For more details on where to park, parking rates, how to pay for parking, please visit Stanford University's How to Purchase Parking web page.

Reading rooms, Hoover Tower exhibition galleries and Lou Henry Hoover Observation Deck are closed for major holidays, Stanford home football games, and campus winter closure. Parking on campus is free on weekends.