 | Ronald Reagan Presidential Library |
| Los Angeles, CA Print Leave a comment |
Description
A Museum for the Whole Family
All the family will enjoy a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It is a museum filled with exhibits about Ronald Reagan's life and events that occurred during his presidency. Little kids will enjoy toddling around the colorful rooms, while older kids can read exhibits and watch films about interesting events. The exhibits are beautifully presented and the museum itself is in a gorgeous building surrounded by panoramic views. No expense has been spared in making this a sparkling production.
The Courtyard and Exhibits About Reagan's Life
As you drive up the driveway you are greeted by flags with pictures of various presidents. At the top of the hill you enjoy landscaped gardens and views all around. The Spanish-style building with large courtyard and fountain awaits you, and pots of flowers add to the color. A statue of Ronald Reagan in a friendly cowboy pose stands outside the front door. Once inside everything looks very formal and presidential. There is a new exhibit on heroes and some of the stories on the displays bring tears to your eyes. Next you learn about Reagan's life growing up, his military and movie career, how he met Nancy Reagan, and how one day he was almost assassinated. It is touching to see throughout the museum how he cared for Nancy Reagan.
Air Force One and the Oval Office
A huge impressive room with a wall of windows displays Air Force One and a wall of flags that tells about Reagan's foreign visits. You can go inside Air Force One, which really just smells like an old airplane. Kids will enjoy walking on the bottom level of this exhibit where there's a Marine One helicopter and a limousine. Afterwards you can head to the oval office, which has been perfectly modeled after the real room as it was during Reagan's time there. Of course there's a jar of jelly beans on the side table! They even give kids jelly beans at the cafeteria!
There is a lovely exhibit that shows how fancy the dinner parties Nancy and Ronald threw were and displays gifts from around the world that were given to them from foreign leaders. An exhibit about Nancy and Ronald's ranch and their enjoyment paddling on Lucky Lake is cute.
The Gardens and Cafeteria
Walk outside and you will see a beautiful chunk of the Berlin wall (shown above) that inspires hope (goodness sometimes conquers). Ronald Reagan's grave site is quite stark but has a nice quote written across it.
The gardens are replicated after the White House's South Lawn- simple lines and mostly grass and pointed hedges. There is a cafeteria with good food, which opens at 11:30am. You can eat outside with sweeping views over avocado farms, ranches, and barren land to the ocean. It's a great way to end your visit!
Plan about 2 hours or more for your visit.
If you need a playground for your kids after you visit, head over to Rancho Madera Community Park, a large park with lush lawn, deciduous trees, a toddler play structure and a big kids play structure with tall twisty tunnel slides.
Photo Gallery
Click on photo to see large versionThe lovely Spanish-style courtyard. |
Potted hibiscus in the courtyard. |
Statue of Ronald Reagan, at the entrance. |
Model of a covered wagon, on the Heroes exhibit. |
Exhibit about Reagan's film star days. |
Booth where Nancy and Ronald dated. |
Plaque next to the booth. |
One of the cars used during Reagan's campaign. |
Air Force One. |
The seal on the door of Air Force One. |
Impressive room with a wall of windows, where Air Force One is displayed. |
Reagan's oval office- a replica. |
Ceremonial saddle, spurs, and sword. Given to Reagan by Governor Roberto de la Madrid of Baja California. |
Outdoor seating at the cafeteria. |
Views of avocado farms and barren land. On a clear day you can see a sliver of ocean. |
A colorful patch in the garden. |
Garden and tables with umbrellas. |
F14 Tomcat. In the garden, we met a pilot who had flown one of these babies! |
Directions
Exit Highway 101 at Highway 23 North. Exit Highway 23 at Olsen Rd and turn right on Olsen Rd. After about 2 minutes, turn left on Presidential Drive. There are plenty of signs to show you the way.
The museum is open from 10-5 every day except holidays. There is free parking. Cost is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $6 for children over 11 years old.
This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.
Visitor Ratings
Overall Visitor Rating: 
Bernice 10/15/2009 12:20 | It is amazing how much there is to see and read. We were thrilled by the new info and perspectives. It is so rare to find such a nice "library" | |
Maria 09/02/2009 21:14 | We might just have to plan a trip out there- your photos and descriptions made it sound/look quite interesting. |