Hoover Hill

Gazing upon this modest rise, can you believe it bears the name of a president? Hoover Hill. Here in Washington D.C., it’s a subtle landmark, easily overlooked amidst the grand monuments. Hoover Hill, however, holds a quiet connection to a figure whose presidency was anything but subtle: Herbert Hoover. The Herbert C. Hoover Building, a massive structure nearby, is named in his honor, and its presence casts a long shadow over this unassuming hill. Hoover, the 31st president, served as Secretary of Commerce before ascending to the highest office. Completed in 1932, the Hoover Building was initially the Department of Commerce headquarters. It wasn’t until 1981, long after Hoover’s presidency, that the building was renamed in his honor. Hoover’s legacy is complex, intertwined with the Great Depression. Yet, his earlier role as Commerce Secretary is what tied him to this building, and by extension, to Hoover Hill. Imagine Hoover, during his time as Commerce Secretary, perhaps looking out a window of this very building towards the small rise that would eventually bear his name. The building itself is an imposing structure. At the time of its completion, it was the largest office building in the world. It housed various agencies of the Department of Commerce, including the National Aquarium and the Patent Search Room, now the Malcolm Baldrige Great Hall. Today, the Hoover Building remains a vital part of the federal government’s presence in D.C., even as Hoover Hill stands quietly by, a small, green reminder of the man whose name echoes through the halls.