Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum

The highlight of our trip to California was our visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. This museum exceeded expectations. It is just terrific and we highly recommend it to anyone that loves history.

The museum is located high on a mountain top in Simi Valley. The view that is offered of the area is very impressive.

Our visit fell on Easter Sunday. Lucky for us, the museum was not only open, but had an Easter Egg Hunt. All the boys received clipboards and were set with the task of finding the hand autographed wooden Easter Eggs that were scattered in the exhibits through-out the museum. The kids all had a blast trying to find each and every egg on the list.

David, our family history buff, has always been intrigued with the "cold war" and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. So, he was especially interested with any of the exhibits that had to do with the United State and Russia peace treaties.

David on the America Side of the "Berlin Wall".

David on the Russian side of the "Berlin Wall".

(Notice the guard and barbed wire.)

Next we got to visit inside Airforce One. This was the actual plane used by 7 Presidents. None of us has any idea how they got it into the museum. I am sure that would be a great history lesson in itself.

David, Edan, Ehman, & Joshua

Inside the airplane there were containers of Jelly Beans everywhere. Our docents explained that it is because Reagand didn't want anyone to smoke, but knowing people's addictions, he knew he had to offer his guests a substitute.

David in front of the Presidential Seal on board Air Fore One.

Edan snickering at me for getting busted! Apparently, no one is allowed to take photos on board Air Force One.

Some memorable exhibits were Ronald Reagan's Early Days. It was fun to see all the clips of when he was an actor. Had to laugh at the full birth certificate of Ronald Reagan on display. (No question there whether he was truly born in the USA or not.)

It was wonderful to see all the gifts that President Reagan has received over the years. Of note was a perfect pearl (which was huge) from the Japanese Prime Minister. There was also an entire exhibit about the attempted assasination... complete with Xrays and film footage of the shooting. It was startling to learn how close he was to being killed that day. And it was wonderful to see how the President made light of such a serious situation by keeping all his doctors laughing.

Grandma Carolynn & grandsons in the courtyard.

The only thing that we missed, was visiting the gravesite of the late great President. It was not until we returned home that I discovered that Ronald Reagan was actually buried there and tourists were welcome to pay their respects.

Description on the wall at Ronald Reagan's gravesite:

"I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life."

-- Ronald Reagan