Visiting Presidential Libraries In Southern California (2024)
Want to know how to visit the presidential libraries in Southern California? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
On one of my first day trips with JP to Simi Valley, we decided to research tourism activities and destinations nearby so that we could go out and explore.
He was already familiar with the area and knew what was around.
So when we were brainstorming ideas we had both mentioned the Reagan Library.
We looked into it and it was a little pricier than we expected.
But we figured it would be a unique experience and we would feel like we got our money’s worth.
This started our bucket list of visiting every Presidential Library.
Visiting Presidential Libraries In Southern California
While we were researching the Reagan Library, we found that they are almost always hosting temporary exhibits throughout the year.
We decided it would be worth it to get the year long membership to the library, that way we could go back each time a new exhibit came through.
We also found out that we have another Presidential Library about 30 minutes away from where we live, so this membership came in handy to visit that library too.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Our first trip to the Reagan Library was so much fun.
The exhibits walk you through his entire life and there were plenty of interactive ones.
Our favorite is this giant board near the end where it projects games and I think about 6 or 8 people can do it at a time.
We’ve gone back and played every game they have because they were just that fun for us.
One that sticks out was a game where you are given a certain amount of money to invest and you have to pick how to distribute it if you were an investor in the 80s.
So the companies were like Coca Cola, IBM, Gap, and about a dozen others.
We of course decided to make a competition out of it and see who would get the highest return.
I still don’t remember who won, but we did find out after playing it a few times that it looked like if you just invested solely in Coca Cola you would get the highest return.
Reagan Library Outdoor Exhibits
Another fun area of the library is where you can go inside Air Force One and get a picture stepping out of it.
This part of the library is located in a room with all windows and a view of the surrounding valley.
There’s an overlook just outside to get a better view and you can see for miles on a clear day.
There are also some smaller planes outside of the library that you can get pretty close to.
Christmas at Reagan Library
Since this first trip, we’ve visited the Reagan Library a few more times.
We initially went back to see their Christmas Lights outdoor exhibit which was so fun.
They had snow, food and drinks, and a gift shop in the courtyard.
Then they had a trail surrounding the entire perimeter of the Library.
It included a portion with a tunnel of lights which we loved.
It was playing some kind of techno sounding Christmas music which was cool.
Once we made it all the way around to the back of the museum, they had a HUGE light display made up to look like a wrapped Christmas present, with lights synced to various songs.
We spent about 30 minutes sipping our hot chocolate and watching this light display.
Reagan Library Special Exhibits
Another time we went to the Reagan Library was for an exhibit on Genghis Khan.
We usually take about an hour or so to walk through these exhibits, look at everything, and do anything in the exhibit that is interactive.
We enjoyed this one a lot and eventually went back when the Pompeii exhibit was there, but somehow managed to not save any pictures from Pompeii.
There was also an exhibit on Egypt’s Lost Cities that we were able to visit just before it closed.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
More recently, we were able to set aside an afternoon to visit the Nixon Library which is only about 30 minutes away from us.
This building was so beautiful and so was the garden.
I wish I had a backyard that looked like this garden.
One thing I liked about this Presidential Library was the video at the beginning.
It was probably somewhere about 10 or 15 minutes long giving a brief overview of Richard Nixon’s whole life, not just his time as president.
It showed a lot about his personality and the type of person he was, which was very interesting.
After the video, the library exhibits began.
There were many photo ops and many Instagram worthy displays which I thought was cool for a Presidential Library.
In the picture below, this was a photo op for the Rose Bowl Parade where I just sat down in a chair behind this half wall and the picture turned out really cool.
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Nixon Library Exhibits
The picture below was actually a display that is sideways on the wall, just above the entry way into the next room.
So imagine walking through your front door and seeing this hovering above you on the wall, just looking down on you.
Another display was a whole hallway of these balloons on the ceiling.
They are so brightly colored and there were so many of them.
Being in a long narrow hallway made the effect even more cool.
I’ve always enjoyed seeing old dresses, whether it is at Presidential Libraries or some of the museums in DC.
I loved this dress so much.
I wish this was still in style because I would wear this all the time.
The top part is the style I had originally wanted for my wedding dress but they didn’t have it in the store so I tried on the others I liked and found one I loved just as much.
Nixon Library Oval Office Replica
This last picture is one of my favorites for obvious reasons.
It is not every day you get to see the Oval Office or even sit at the President’s desk.
This room was set up as a replica when Nixon was president.
To be honest, I’m not sure what is different in the room today from back then since the room itself pretty much has the same overall look.
They could’ve told me this is what the oval office looks like right now and I would not even question it.
List Of All Presidential Libraries In The US
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum – West Branch, Iowa
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum – Hyde Park, New York
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum -Independence, Missouri
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum – Abilene, Kansas
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum – Boston, Massachusetts
Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum – Austin, Texas
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum – Yorba Linda, California
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum – Atlanta, Georgia
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum – Simi Valley, California
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum – College Station, Texas
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum – Little Rock, Arkansas
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum – Dallas, Texas
Barack Obama Presidential Library – Estates, Illinois
More Fun Things To Do In Southern California
There are nearly endless things to do in Southern California, but these are some of our favorite things to do and the most recommended activities we get asked about!
➡ Knott’s Berry Farm One Day Itinerary
Knott’s Berry Farm is America’s Oldest Theme Park.
It’s in Buena Park, less than 30 minutes from the Nixon Presidential Library.
They have seasonal festivals all throughout the year, so depending on when you visit they are probably having some sort of special celebration.
➡ Universal Studios Hollywood One Day Itinerary
With the newly opened Super Mario World, if you haven’t visited Universal Studios Hollywood in awhile, now is the time!
Plus, the Studio Tram Tour is different every time you go on it and you never know what celebrities you might see on the Universal lot.
👉 Click Here To Book Your One Day Admission To Universal Studios Hollywood Today!
➡ Unforgettable Weekend Getaways In Orange County
Orange County has a little something for everybody.
We created over a dozen weekend getaway ideas for every interest and every type of traveler.
Conclusion: Visiting Presidential Libraries In Southern California
As you can see, the Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries in Southern California are unique destinations unlike anything else in the area.
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