Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Located in Simi Valley just outside of Los Angeles, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum preserves the life story of America's fortieth president. Ronald Reagan held office from 1981 to 1989, succeeded by his vice president, George H. W. Bush. The library and museum was opened in 1991. The views of the surrounding valleys and mountains are majestic and the location was chosen to echo the "shining city on a hill" that Reagan often referred to in his political speeches. His career from college athlete and performer to Hollywood actor to politician is chronicled. When we visited, it was also hosting a traveling exhibit on The Dead Sea Scrolls.

The entrance has some bronze statues of the president and his First Lady, Nancy Reagan.

Ronald Reagan at the entrance

Blogger, President, First Lady

The museum begins with his early family life in Illinois where he was born.

Early life

He played football in high school and was involved in the drama department. He went on to Eureka College, continuing both pursuits along with being active in campus politics. His first jobs after college were in radio broadcasting. He eventually moved to Hollywood to try acting, becoming a star after appearing in Knute Rockne, All-American. He played George Gipp, a Notre Dame football player who famously asked Coach Knute Rockne to "win just one more for the Gipper." "The Gipper" became a knick-name later on in life.

High school memorabilia

First starring role as "The Gipper"

An interactive exhibit lets visitors try out color-commentating a football game or starring in one of Reagan's movie scenes.

Trying out his radio persona

The museum briefly reviews his decade as Governor of California. Inheriting a debt from the previous administration, Reagan instituted both additional taxes and budget cuts to create a surplus. He also dealt with social unrest at California universities.

As California's govenor

Energy policy

The exhibits on his presidential years are extensive. They start with the 1980 campaign against Jimmy Carter which wound up as a landslide victory for Reagan.

Famous quote from the 1980s campaign

Inauguration outfits

I am Secret Service for my presidential offspring's inaugural address

On March 30, 1981, John Hinkley tried to assassinate President Reagan on the streets of Washington, DC. Reagan was rushed to George Washington University Hospital where he recovered from a punctured lung, cracked rib, and internal bleeding. When he first went under for surgery, he told the doctor, "I hope you are a Republican." So he kept a sense of humor. Afterward, he credited God with sparing his life and assumed he had a mission to fulfill.

Items from the assassination attempt

The museum has a full-size recreation of the Oval Office, decorated as it was during Reagan's presidency. 

Oval office desk

Oval office sitting area

Life at the White House was busy. Reagan took to writing diaries, which are preserved in the library part of the museum.

Reagan's diary on display

Nancy Reagan made some aesthetic changes though she did not use tax money to make the changes. The Reagans also did a lot of hosting of both domestic and foreign visitors. 

Interactive exhibit about entertaining foreign dignitaries

Reagan china

John Travolta and Princess Diana dance at the White House!

Nancy Reagan's sense of style and extravagant spending were noticed and mocked by the media. Being a good sport, she dressed up in a crazy outfit and sang a little ditty about excessive style. She won over the press by her sense of humor.

Extravagant outfit?

Some pictures show the changes in various White House rooms.

Reagan-era updates

Nancy Reagan also advocated against under-age drug use, starting a "Just Say No!" campaign that used stuff like sports and board games to get the youth on board.

Not the most successful campaign

One of the highlights of the museum is Air Force One, one of the Boeing 707s used by presidents to travel around the country and the world. This particular plane (tail number 27000) was used from Richard Nixon's presidency to George W. Bush's, so seven presidents. It was decommissioned in 2001 and given to the museum. 

Air Force One!

Other side of the plane

In an interesting twist of fate, one of the Secret Service men who helped during the assassination attempt had seen Reagan's film Code of the Secret Service and was inspired to join the agency! 

A bit of a circle

Visitors can go on the plane and see this flying White House from the inside.

Cockpit

Not-so-oval office

Briefing room

Seems like every seat is first class

A mural outside the plane shows the various aircraft that served as Air Force One through the years. Any time a president rides in an aircraft, it becomes Air Force One.

Lots of presidential transportation

Reagan's limousine is on display underneath the plane.

Presidential limo

Also in the Air Force One Pavilion is The Ronald Reagan Pub and Snack Bar. While visiting Ireland in 1984, Ronald and Nancy visited O'Farrell's Pub in Ballyporeen. The pub was disassembled and moved to California in 2005.

We did not get a snack or drink, alas!

Reagan's favorite candy was jelly beans. He always had a jar on his desk (even on Air Force One). The company donated a picture of Reagan made entirely of jelly beans. 

Not sure about this

Back in the exhibits, several interactive tables explained the economic revival under Reagan.

Having fun and learning

More economic learning

During his presidency, the space program grew as the space shuttles took center stage. A great disaster for the country was the explosion of the Challenger shuttle in 1986.

Remembering astronauts who died 

Reagan's reelection in 1984 against Democratic candidate Walter Mondale was an even bigger landslide.

Mondale won his home state and DC, the rest was for Reagan

The next exhibit explained the Cold War and how it came to an end partly through Reagan's efforts. In addition to speaking out against nuclear proliferation and human rights violations under Communist rule, Reagan expanded military spending to provide a viable threat to Soviet expansion. Reagan's work was only a part of a larger whole, with Pope John Paul II inspiring Polish Catholics to organize and protest against their communist government which was little more than a client state of the U.S.S.R.

Berlin Wall recreation

Meeting JPII in 1982

Reagan met with Premier Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, in a series of negotiations to limit nuclear weapons and curtail expansionism.

Negotiations

Geneva Summit

Stuff from Camp David, a retreat for the president from DC

The final exhibits are about Reagan's post-presidential life. He developed Alzheimer's Disease and died quietly in 2004. Reagan and Nancy are both buried on the grounds of the musem though we did not visit their graves. The kids were "museumed out" by that point, so we headed on to our next destination.

Normal Rockwell painting of Reagan

Reagan's body lying in state at the Capitol

Unbeknownst to me, my wife and daughter took some pictures that are too fun not to share...

Riding at Camp David

Less enthusiasm