Inside Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library

Good evening everyone!  Yesterday on my way to the Holiday Inn Express Solvang, my parents and I stopped at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library.  It is more of a museum than anything else and is located on top of a hill in Simi Valley, CA.  To learn more, please check out the official website.  Here are some pictures from around the presidential foundation.  First of all, the above flags with Ronald Reagan’s picture and presidential dates are right outside the entrance.  As you drive up the hill, you see the first 39 presidents and as you drive back down the hill, you see the next 4 presidents.

As you enter the front doors, there is a bronze statue of Ronald Reagan with his cowboy hat.  I’m not sure what admission costs, my parents bought a yearlong pass last time they were here.

Here are Ronald and Nancy Reagan statues, about an inch taller than real life.

Are you better off than you were four years ago?  Well to be honest, I was a junior in college and hadn’t discovered the miles and points game yet, so I would say yes.

This is pretty cool – there is a wooden podium with 2 clear teleprompter glass panes that reflect the teleprompter screen near the bottom of the podium.

Replica Oval Office and presidential desk.  Every president can choose which picture of George Washington they want to hang in the Oval Office.

Almost everyday for 8 years, Ronald Reagan wrote in his diary.  Every page in the diary was scanned and typed out, so you can read what he wrote for any day in the diary.

Just say no!  The classic board game that taught kids how to say no to drugs and alcohol.  I can’t believe this is really a board game.

This is Air Force One (click image to see high resolution image).  There is an interesting video showing how they transported the plane from the airport to the top of the hill and built the walls and ceiling around the plane after it was reassembled.  On the other side of the plane, you can enter the plane like you do a normal aircraft.  The aircraft is a Boeing 707, it looks large on the outside, but it is pretty small on the inside.  Unfortunately, they would not let me take any pictures inside.  Something about national security…

This is Marine One (click image to see high resolution image).  You can walk through the helicopter and see inside.  The helicopter is pretty small and the ceiling is very low, about 5 feet tall.  As you board the aircraft and helicopter, you can have your photo taken by an employee and you can purchase your photo shortly thereafter (just like at an amusement park).

Outside the library, there is a burial memorial for Ronald Reagan.

There is a seasonal exhibit showcasing 20+ Christmas trees decorated to represent different regions of California.  The four trees I liked: Carmel/Monterey, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Hollywood.  I’m sure this exhibit will be around until early January, but I’m not sure what will happen after January.

Last but not least, this quote reminds me of the miles and points community:  So true Katharine Hepburn, so true!

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.  Have a great evening everyone!