Day 39 - 10/13 - Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Today we drove to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. It took nearly 90 minutes to get there from our location. The library is a 100-acre site, perched on a mountaintop with sweeping views of mountains, valleys, and the Pacific Ocean. Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s life story is elegantly portrayed. There is even a separate exhibit hall for an Air Force One, Marine helicopter, and a Presidential Limousine. Reagan traveled to 26 countries during his tenure as President. Reagan is known as a “man who inspired freedom and changed the world.” It is very obvious that the curators underscored that viewpoint.It took quite a bit of time to cover the 24 galleries and interactive exhibits. Before leaving the library, we were able to enjoy a picnic lunch on the library grounds.

The Regan Presidential Library and Museum sit atop one of the

a tall hill that separates Simi Valley from Santa Rosa Valley.

The location was acquired especially for the library and gives

one the feeling of being at a large ranch in Southern California.

The library and museum overlook the Southern California

valleys that surround it. Posters on street lighting

are off all the presidents to date. Interestingly, however,

those that came after Regan are viewable on the trip

back down to the valley level.

This statue shows Reagan in casual western wear. The style

is what he preferred.

Unlike the Nixon library, the Reagan library was well funded and well endowed. In fact, according to the guidelines established for operations, the federal government isn’t involved. At first blush that doesn’t see like a bad thing but, in reality, the messaging can carry with it a certain bias.

In contrast to the Nixon and Truman libraries we’ve visited on this trip, Reagan’s is much larger in size and capable of handling a much larger number of visitors simultaneously. In fact, four of the galleries are reserved for traveling exhibits such as the Auschwitz exhibition. There was also a café on site as well as a bar. And, like other establishments, there are photographers to take photos at various sites allowing one to purchase photo mementoes of the visit. (We have no difficulty in resisting such economic opportunities.)

Byron observed that every gallery had bronze plaques with the names of benefactors. For instance, Boone Pickens and Merv Griffin contributed substantially to the Air Force One exhibit. And, in the gift shop, it was possible to purchase a book authored by one of the GOP presidential candidates for 2024. This form of commercialization would not be allowed in a historical facility supported by the National Archives or the National Park Service.

The Oval Office

Air Force One on display in it's own gallery.

As the president’s work area was appointed aboard the 707.

Note that "the football” sits under the desk.

The exhibit about the Berlin Wall features Reagan and Gorbachev

in conversation.

Final resting place of the Reagans.

As Reagan commented, nothing does the inside of a man as much

good as his legs around the outside of a horse.

With the statue of Nancy Reagan.

We have visited quite a few Presidential Museums and have a few more to visit before the end of this trip.  In fact, the order in which we’ve experience them is: Lincoln, Clinton, Franklin Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Hoover Childhood Home, Nixon, and Reagan. Thus far, the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois is still our favorite! We still have H.W. Bush, W. Bush, and Johnson schedule for this trip.

One last stop for the day, the Rose Bowl Stadium located in Pasadena!

This photo was taken especially for our football-loving

grandson, Ben. (Please ignore the Honda promo).