On top of a hill in Simi Valley, at the end of a long driveway lined with banners depicting every president of the United States, is a place that, on the 4th of July offers face painting, story telling, and moon bounces—for free. And, during Chanukah, on the top of this hill, Chabad lights a giant menorah for all the valley below to see—and there’s also face painting, craft making, and snacks for free. What is this place?

I’m talking about the Reagan Presidential Library, of course. Opened in 1991, the library tells the story of President Ronald Reagan, with artifacts from his life as a young boy growing up in Illinois, to his years in Hollywood, to his remarkable political career. How Reagan went from being a Hollywood actor to the most powerful man in the free world is carefully chronicled in short films, news clips, and historical displays that capture moments in time. One of the most popular attractions is a replica of the Oval Office, furnished with all the décor and interior design as Reagan had it, down to the jar of jellybeans on his desk.

The jellybeans appear again in the latest attraction at the library, one for which an enormous addition had to be built on to the modest facility: the Air Force One Pavilion. A beautiful new, multi-level wing of the library, with one wall made entirely of windows to let in the daylight, Air Force One is showcased in state of the art style. And even though it’s pretty neat just to see it from the outside, with the presidential seal on a white background, the good news is you can actually go inside the aircraft and see for yourself how much is packed into the “flying White House.” The President has his office area, and then there are special quarters for cabinet and administration members, security, and even the White House press crew. There are innovations on Air Force One that today may not seem like a big deal, but a “secure phone” and a control system to contact the departments of defense in case of an emergency were once unavailable to the Commander in Chief when traveling by air.

Included in the pavilion is also a Marine One helicopter, as well as vehicles from President Reagan’s motorcade. You can also have your picture taken in front of Air Force One and have it processed and ready to purchase when you finish touring the aircraft. This seems to be a common feature at most theme parks and events these days.

The Cold War during Reagan’s presidency is presented in both the main library and the new pavilion, with the most memorable piece being a huge cement section of the Berlin wall. It was at the Brandenburg Gate in West Germany in 1987 that President Reagan shocked the world by declaring in his speech, “Mr. Gobachev, tear down this wall!” It was Reagan’s blunt language, and open confrontation of the Soviet Union which lead to his greatest legacy. Natan Sharansky had the opportunity to tell President Reagan how, when the Soviet dissidents in the gulag of Siberia got hold of a copy of a newspaper reporting Reagan’s speech in which he refers to the Soviet Union as the “Evil Empire” that the prisoners burst out in celebration. As Sharansky explained, Reagan had put an end to the world’s pretense that the Soviet Union wasn’t all that bad. Reagan himself was happy to hear Sharansky’s story because for both the speech at the Berlin wall and the “evil empire” speech, Reagan had been heavily criticized in America and around the world. Historically, this is an important lesson about the power of strong leadership, and it is one of many informative elements of the library.

The library contains several unique permanent collections as well as temporary exhibits. One room is dedicated to displaying the vast array of gifts Reagan received during his eight year presidency, including some unusual handmade items.

A Sunday outing to the Reagan Presidential Library is a fun and manageable excursion, taking about 45 minutes to get there from LA, and, since it’s air-conditioned, any time is a good time to go. By the way, keep your eye out for the annual Chanukah party at the Reagan library, which has in the past been hosted by Chabads of Simi Valley and Conejo along with the library.

Notes:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Tel: (800) 410-8354
www.reaganfoundation.org
The library is open daily from 10am-5pm
Admission: Ages 18–61: $12.00
Ages 62+: $9.00
Ages 11–17: $3.00
Under age 11: Free