The Los Angeles metro area is
lucky to have not one but two
Presidential Library and Museums: Richard
Nixon (Orange County) and Ronald Reagan (Simi Valley).
Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum is located
at 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard in Yorba
Linda, Orange County about 20 minutes from Disneyland. This is just off
of the 90 highway which is merely several miles from the great 91
freeway. As you pull into the parking lot take a moment to reflect on
what this area would have looked like when Nixon was born and during his
formative years. Where the parking lot is today was once citrus orchards
and dusty streets connected the local area farms. Today this area is
surrounded by residential neighborhoods, wide streets and shopping
centers. At the far end of the parking lot as you enter, you will pass
the helicopter used by Nixon as well as his old home.
Allow at least 2-3 hours to visit this museum. There are a number of
exhibits and written descriptions next to the items that take some time
to read and absorb. There is a lot of history contained within its
walls. Highlights in the actual museum include the oldest item in the
museum, a Carnelian necklace from the Prime Minister at that time of
Israel (11th or 12th century), a love note from the President to his
wife Patricia, real life bronze sculptors of who Richard Nixon
considered to be the top leaders during his presidency, his limousine, a
contingency letter in case of failure during the moon launches and
videos of a number of Presidential inaugural speeches. Like the Reagan
Museum in Simi Valley (north of LA), the Nixon Museum also contains a
large piece of the Berlin Wall.
The museum grounds are actually on site of where Nixon spent his early
formative years. His family's restored home dates from 1912 and is
located towards the back of the property behind the actual museum. It is
still in its original location. Note the large Pepper trees near the
house; these were planted by Nixon's father. A short guided tour of this
home is included with your paid admission. Highlights include the family
kitchen table, their piano, the small room where part of the family
slept and other family era items. This house is extremely small and at
one point served as home for the Nixon parents and 4 boys.
The Presidential helicopter is located just past Nixon's old home and is
a great place for photography. It is small and therefore not open inside
to the public but you can walk around the entire chopper.
Also be sure to see the approximately 30 minute video shown every hour
about President Nixon. The gift shop is excellent and even contains
somewhat hard to find one of a kind souvenirs (contained behind the
glass windows). As with other Presidential Libraries the Nixon Library
offers ongoing speakers and events. Check their website for details.
Visit:
www.nixonfoundation.org and view our thumbnail photos below.
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| Main building |
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Front entrance |
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Bedroom & bed |
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Family home |
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Inner courtyard |
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| Historical marker |
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Presidential Seal |
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Flower garden |
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Author |
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Space suit |
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| House |
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Helicopter |
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Nixon's grave |
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Nixon's home |
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Side of museum |
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| House window |
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Heads of state |
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Presidential Limo |
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Museum |
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China Ping Pong |
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum
is located in a gorgeous hillside location overlooking Simi Valley (40
Presidential Drive - reached either from the 23 or 118 freeways) which
on a clear warm day is very impressive. Get here early on any good
weather weekend - the crowds start arriving late morning and the museum
opens at 10am. There are several parking lots available by their own
entrances and during busy days parking often backs up well down the
hillside road leading to the actual library. We've noticed that later in
the day new arrivals see the long line of parked cars leading down the
road and choose the first open space they see. However, we have left the
upper main parking lots and have noticed a few empty spots by mid
afternoon; in other words if you arrive mid to late afternoon its worth
at least driving up the main lots in case there are some empty spots.
The museum opened in 1991 and
provides an extensive range of exhibits about Reagan's life. There are
many galleries, each one focusing on one aspect of Reagan's life. The
Gallery of Presidents contains original paintings of all US Presidents
which is next to the "welcome theatres" which provide good overviews of
Reagan's life. Other
highlights include replicas of the Oval Office, the Situation Room & the White House Rose
Garden. The video that runs every few minutes describing the
assassination attempt is quite popular. The real Presidential Limousine, Marine One Helicopter and Air
Force One that Reagan used are on display in a massive windowed building
which is perched on the edge of a hill overlooking Simi Valley.
Photographs are allowed outside of the plane (no flash) and anywhere
below the plane on the lower level as well as in the main galleries.
There is a red carpet leading to the actual Air Force One and once you
stand on this carpet, no photos are allowed. However, there is a
professional photographer who will snap your photo on the steps leading
into the plane (a victory V salute is appropriate at this point) and
your photo will be available for purchase on the lower level once you
disembark the plane. A mandatory short video about the history of AF 1
is played before you head out onto the "tarmac". We made a point to be
at the museum right before it opened and were able to make a beeline for
"the plane". As a result we were the *only* one inside the plane other
than the 2 docents. During some busy weekends the line to get inside is
very long. The inside of the plane is spacious, with several sections
for press and staff including the "black box".
Every US President since
Franklin D. Roosevelt, upon finishing his time in office, have had
Presidential libraries built for them.
During one weekend
when we visited, "Live history" displays were held in the main
courtyard. People were dressed in mid 1700's style and each person
played a specific role such as cook, blacksmith, or doctor. Crowds
gathered around their "station" and listened to era stories about their
specific trades. One person asked one of the cooks who was roasting
chicken in a fire pit if they purchased that at Albertson's. Being in
the 1740's mindset this person said that was not a word in his
vocabulary!
The museum often has prestigious speakers, events and historical
documents as well as rotating Reagan related exhibits. Replica's of the
White House Rose Garden, and South Lawn are outside as well as Reagan's
Memorial Site. In addition look for an 8000 lb part of the Berlin Wall
including era graffiti on its walls. A Cafe is on site as well as a well
stocked gift shop. We recommend at least 3.5 to 4 hours here. For more information about this
library visit:
www.reaganfoundation.org and click on our thumbnail photos below:
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| Simi Valley View |
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Air Force 1 |
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Memorial |
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Dresses |
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Berlin Wall |
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| Library Entrance |
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Situation Room |
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Swearing in Suit |
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The "Gipper" |
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AF1 Underneath |
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| Outside AF1 |
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Bronze Statue |
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AF1 Wheels |
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Belt Collection |
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AF1 |
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About
Dave's Pick