I always had a soft spot for the Reagans, but not for reasons one might think. Back in the early days, my Mom and Dad both bore a striking resemblance. Their heights and weight were an exact match to the Reagans. Dad had thick wavy brown hair and could fill out a suit and tie with panache, while Mom had the 80’s “brown football helmet hair,” complete with “wiglet,” and looked like a Talbot’s model in her double knit dresses. During Reagan’s heyday, I was working for Braniff International Airlines. Not only could I fly anywhere system-wide in First Class for less than the cost of admission to the Reagan Library, I could also bring my family along. But flying “non-rev” meant we had to dress up for the flights. I used to call my parents “Ron and Nancy,” as we would sit across the aisle and toast our free first class cocktails. Aaahh, those eighties “Glory Days.”
Visiting the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley was the complete opposite experience from the Nixon Library, separated by just 80 short miles across LA. I visited the Nixon Library on a Saturday morning, concerned whether there would be a place to park my rig as I stopped on my way around LA. The parking lot was empty, even with a wedding in progress. I arrived at the Reagan Library on a Monday morning expecting to find another empty parking lot. But all lots were already full, with instructions to “park along the curb and use Shuttle Service.” Shuttle Service? Thank goodness this visit, I had only the Tracker to park.
Admission to the Library and Museum is a whopping $29.00, as compared to the “construction discount price” of $4.25 at the Nixon Library. The Audio tour is an additional $7! I quizzed the woman at the ticket desk about various discounts. As I ran through my list of scenarios, she offered what sounded like the “Paris discount” Maybe “parents?” for $24.00. Neither a Parisian nor a parent, I will still take it! I opted to skip the $7 optional audio tour.
The museum itself was like no other Presidential Library I have ever visited. There was some sort of interactive display or media presentation at every exhibit, almost with a Disneyland flair.
The first phase of the tour begins with the “Hollywood Years” where visitors have an opportunity to sit in front of the “green screen” and make a video of themselves emulating the role of “The Great Communicator.” There are different scripts to choose for your screen test; broadcasting the General Electric Theatre Show, or reading lines from one of his movies. The video can then be viewed in playback on the big screen.
Other exhibits include reading his inauguration speech from actual teleprompters, interactive screens to design your own Presidential China, and even an “Etiquette Test” to score yourself from protocol to the proper place setting. Upon entering the Air Force One Pavilion, professional photographers stand at the ready to take souvenir photos as you board the aircraft or Marine One. Packages are available for purchase, or you can settle for the single snapshot for $14.95. uuuummmm….no.
Sound effects, lighting, and staging are used extensively; the sound of barking dogs on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Bright red lights, giant multi-media screen, and ammo crates as seating for the Communism exhibit. Even half of a horse that you can straddle for a photo op, “Riding with Reagan.”
But none of the exhibits are so dramatic and evocative as the final scene. The visitor winds through multiple media rooms depicting the “final days,” from the Alzheimer speech, “I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life,” to the presentation of the folded flag at sunset over Simi Valley. The music, the speeches given by his children, the choir singing Amazing Grace are enough to cause one to almost feel grief for the passing of a 93 year old man who no longer had his faculties.
“Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, coast for a while, and then have a hell of a close.” ~ Ronald Reagan
Beautiful photographs as usual. I hope to see this place in person one day soon. The weather always looks so perfect there!
You still bumping around SoCal? I’d thought you’d be in the Sequoias by now! Beautiful library, haven’t been to either of them, but this one looks much more appealing than Nixon. Save travels Friend!!!
Two more on my day-trip list, thanks to you. Safe travels…
We enjoyed the history presented at Nixon’s. Reagan’s was too much Hollywood and short on the Presidency. When we went, there was even a mention of Reagan’s children.
NOT even a mention of his kids
Well, it certainly has Hollywood panache out the wazoo! No wonder it cost $29 bucks. Thanks for the tour — not sure we’ll ever make it there.
An interesting tour. It has always fascinated me how Reagan rose from actor to Presiden, so it will be interesting to see what happens in November. .
Most interesting from a Canadians perspective. I had no idea what Presidential Libraries were all about.
After reading one of your posts I often google a word, name, lyric, etc. that I’m not familiar with…this time it was “pieces of eight”…thanks.
Since we live so close we were considering a visit but now I am not so sure, so thanks for the tour. You look like a natural up at that podium.
Now I feel like I’ve been there and can save my $29. That is cheap compared to the prices we have been seeing lately Biltmore $60+tax, Historic Triangle in Williamsburg $84.25+tax. While I’m sure they cost a lot to put together, I think they are becoming out of the range of most families.