After a hearty breakfast in the Best Western Plus Posada Royale Hotel & Suites In Simi Valley we drove to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in our rental car.
Opened in 1991, the Presidential Library of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, is not a traditional library, but rather a repository for papers, awards, and other historical materials (e.g., a piece of the Berlin Wall). The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Further information and online tickets can be found on the official website: http://www.reaganfoundation.org.
Thanks to our online tickets, we were able to enter the museum immediately after opening without a long wait. Equipped with a map, we explored the various exhibitions. Many exhibits depict the various stages of the life of former Hollywood actor and US President Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Oval Office
The 1:1 replica of the Oval Office in the White House was impressive. Fun fact: since the original room height of 5.60 meters didn't receive a building permit in Simi Valley, the replica was simply placed deeper in the ground.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Air Force One Pavilion
The absolute highlight of our visit was the Air Force One Pavilion, which opened in 2005. Here, we admired the modified Boeing 707, which served not only as the official aircraft of Reagan, but also as the aircraft of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We had the opportunity to walk through the aircraft. There were always guides in the various compartments who could share one or two interesting facts. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to us, photography is not permitted inside.
In addition to Air Force One, this pavilion also houses the Marine One helicopter and several vehicles, such as the presidential limousine. In the exhibited and current Marine One, passengers over 1.70 meters tall are not allowed to walk upright.
Ronald Reagan Grave
Finally, in the beautifully landscaped outdoor area, we visited the gravesites of Ronald Reagan. This is where he found his final resting place on June 11, 2004. Incidentally, former First Lady Nancy Reagan is said to still live in the immediate vicinity of the library.
Update: 07.03.2016: Nancy Reagan sadly passed away on March 6, 2016. Her body will be buried next to her husband.
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Simi Valley?
You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, otel.com or Venere.com.
