Morning in America: Visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum
After the glitz and glamour of Southern California, consider a trip to Simi Valley. Tucked in the rolling hills just north of Los Angeles, you’ll find the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum.
The Ronald Reagan museum guides you through the life of the 40th President and his wife Nancy with several in-depth exhibits and hands on learning opportunities. The Reagans’ lives intersected with the golden age of Hollywood as well as critical moments of world history, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum chronicles it all.
Your Visit to Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum
The Reagan Presidential Museum excels in providing a hands-on and modern approach to storytelling. As you walk through, you’ll be greeted by a hologram of Reagan. You can also take your turn as doing play by play commentator for a baseball game, a job that Reagan held in his early days.
You’ll also have plenty of photo opportunities throughout the site. There are several beautiful statues of the Reagans throughout, including at the main entrance. You can step behind the podium with the presidential seal, take a photo and practice your State of the Union address.
President Reagan’s career is chronicled, including his time in Hollywood. His on-screen achievements are highlighted, including his time as a spokesman for General Electric and as the leader of the Screen Actors Guild. The museum paints the picture of these different career highlights and how they all came together to bring Reagan to a life in politics.
Reagan’s political career began in the 1960s with a successful run as governor of California. From there, he eventually ran for president, serving two terms from 1981 to 1989.
Reagan’s Impact on History
Reagan’s influence on world history in the 1980s and into the 1990s was vast, and the Reagan Presidential Museum details the era well. From the Iranian Hostage Crisis ending at the beginning of his term, to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the assassination attempt on his life, and more, you get a firsthand look at these historic moments.
Historic Aircraft on Display
On display in the Air Force One Pavilion are two historic aircraft. Marine One and Air Force One dominate this massive area. The plane and helicopter are the focal point of this massive room, which also features spectacular views of Simi Valley.
The Marine One helicopter on display is a Sikorsky VH-3A, and served Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. This is the vehicle that famously transported President Nixon away from the White House after he resigned in 1974.
Reagan was a prolific traveler during his two terms in office. During that time, Reagan and Air Force One traveled 660,000 miles to 26 foreign countries and 46 U.S. states. This particular aircraft served as Air Force One for seven U.S. Presidents from 1973 to 2001, including Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Throughout the exhibits, you learn about the Reagans’ life, both private and public, in front of the camera and behind. The museum also tells the story of Nancy Reagan, from her career in Hollywood, her faithful devotion to husband Ron, and her involvement in policy initiatives like Just Say No to Drugs as First Lady.
The Grounds Surrounding the Museum
The grounds at the Reagan Presidential Museum are stunning. The views of Simi Valley are gorgeous, so make sure you allow some time to explore. The highlight of the grounds is the memorial and gravesite of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
The Berlin Wall fell in late 1989, after Reagan left office. However, there is no doubt that the policies championed by Reagan were instrumental in causing it. The Museum delves deeply into Reagan’s relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet Union and the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall. A highlight of the museum, and of that era is a chunk of the Berlin Wall on display outside at the museum.
The museum celebrates Americanand freedom. You can sense that throughout your time on the property. They have exhibits that bring a sense of patriotism to light. Most notably, you will see a beam from the World Trade Center as a tribute to 9/11.
Planning Your Visit
Depending on when you visit, you might also have the opportunity for various traveling exhibits. On our visit, we had the opportunity to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. That would have been pretty cool too, but the lines were long and it required an additional fee.
The Museum is self-guided, though there are opportunities for guided tours. There is plenty to see inside and out, so plan two to three hours to see it all. Admission to the museum is less than $30 per person. There are various price breaks based on age, as well as discounts for veterans. The staff was super helpful getting us checked in, and in fact volunteered information which saved us money. You can buy a membership to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, which will save you money. As a result, we now have free access to other Presidential Museums across the country with that membership. Check out some of the other President Museums we’ve visited.
The campus has a number of nice amenities. There is ample free parking available at the venue. You will find a cafe, as well as a gift shop. There are not a ton of food options in the immediate area surrounding the museum, so keep that in mind as you are planning your visit.
The Reagan Presidential Museum is open daily from 10AM to 5PM. The Museum and Library are located at 40 Presidential Drive Simi Valley, CA., 93065. The museum and grounds are very accessible, and easy to navigate.
And it’s very much worth your time. If you grew up during the Reagan era, or have an appreciation for history, this is a wonderful destination to add into your Southern California visit.
