A guide to the Ronald Reagan library

Ronald Reagan is consistently ranked as one of the most popular U.S. presidents in history. His presidential library gives the public unprecedented access to his life, his presidency and helps us to understand how he governed. The Ronald Reagan Library is a fitting tribute to the 40th President of the United States.

The Ronald Reagan Library

The Ronald Reagan Library sits atop a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Simi Valley, California. The spot was chosen by President Reagan himself and he was very involved in the planning of the library. The library is also Ronald Reagan’s final resting place; his grave looks out over the Pacific Ocean. Every year on his birthday a celebration is held at his graveside. Ronald Reagan Library
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93065 The library is open daily from 10am to 5pm; it is closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Admission: Ages 18-61 - $12
Ages 62+ - $9
Ages 11-17 - $6
Ages 0-10 - Free

Displays at the Library

Air Force One Pavilion – This features the actual Air Force One aircraft that was used by 7 U.S. Presidents, including President Reagan. Visitors can board the plane and experience what it was like to fly on Air Force One. Oval Office Replica – This is a complete replica of how the Oval Office looked when Ronald Reagan was President. Berlin Wall Section – A complete section of the Berlin Wall is located outside next to Ronald Reagan’s grave. It is argued that his demanding the wall be taken down is what precipitated the fall of the Soviet Union.

Archives

The most important part of a presidential library is the archives. The archives at the Ronald Reagan Library, which are administrated by the National Archives and Records Administration, feature all the presidential records of Ronald Reagan. This includes over 60 million pages of documents, 1.6 million photographs, ½ million feet of film, thousands of audio and video tapes, and at least 40,000 artefacts of the Reagan presidency. Anyone is allowed to access the papers at the library at no charge between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. They also take requests by mail for copies of documents; these cost a minimum amount, usually just covering the cost of photocopying.