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Category: Presidential Library

  • The Ultimate Christmas Extravaganza – Trees of the Decades at the Ronald Reagan Library

    The Ultimate Christmas Extravaganza – Trees of the Decades at the Ronald Reagan Library

    One of my favorite places to visit during the holiday season is the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley California. The library staff decorates the property so well. The highlight is always the collection of Christmas trees that are so creative and beautiful. The 2025 display includes 26 trees decorated to represent each decade in our country’s history.

    I have included a photo of each tree. My personal favorites include the trees from the 1770, 1870, 1920, 1930, 1950 and 1970.

    The 1770 tree includes the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Lantern, George Washington and the fife and drummers.

    The 1870 tree is especially fun because so much happened in this decade – including the establishment of Yellowstone as the first national park. American football and tennis were developed and the typewriter was created. In addition, Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb.

    The tree representing the Roaring Twenties includes film star Rudolph Valentino who starred in The Sheik in 1921 and died in 1926 at the young ages age of 31. The 18th Amendment banning alcohol became effective in 1920 so this tree dramatically features speakeasy signage. Also, the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified in 1920 so the tree is adorned with Votes for Women buttons.

    The 1930s tree includes baskets of apples, the Great Depression, the Hindenburg blimp and Shirley Temple.

    The 1950s tree includes a beautiful lit-up Wurlitzer jukebox as well as Elvis memorabilia, a tribute to the Korean War and a photo of President Eisenhower.

    The 1970s is especially important to me because it was the decade of my childhood. So much happened in this decade and the tree reflects it with: the bar code creation, the start-up Apple Computer Company logo and the movies Jaws, Star Wars, Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Watergate, President Jimmy Carter, the Bicentennial and the short-lived eight track are all included on this tree.

    The trees are on display until January 4 so you still have time to schedule a visit to the library.

    1770
    1780
    1790
    1800
    1810
    1820
    1830
    1840
    1850
    1860
    1870
    1890
    1900
    1910
    1920
    1930
    1940
    1950
    1960
    1970
    1980
    1990
    2000
    2010
    2020
  • The Ronald Reagan Library Is An Absolute Must!

    The Ronald Reagan Library Is An Absolute Must!

    I have visited approximately half of the presidential libraries and the Ronald Reagan Library located in Simi Valley California is my favorite one – so far. Both the permanent and traveling exhibits are impressive. Plus, it is located in a beautiful area of Simi Valley with spectacular mountain views from every direction. In addition, the library has the most friendly and helpful staff.

    First, the library has the Air Force One plane that Reagan flew on as president. The plane was in service from 1973 to 2001 and Reagan flew on it the most out of the seven presidents who used this particular plane. It is impressively displayed in a glass structure and visitors can walk around and through the plane. One year, we even enjoyed a fun lunch during the Christmas season where the tables were set under Air Force One. The food was delicious and the table settings and decorations were perfect.

    Speaking of Christmas, every year the library showcases an impressive number of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. This year, we enjoyed looking at 26 trees representing each decade in American history. Last year, the museum displayed trees for each Country that Reagan visited during his eight years in the White House.

    The rotating exhibits are wonderful as well. Currently, the library is curating a fun cowboy themed exhibit. Past exhibits include: the FBI, Pompeii and Auschwitz.

    Finally, no visit is complete without a visit to the gift shop. I never walk out empty-handed. I usually pick up a few fun Christmas tree ornaments. One year, I picked up a great book regarding the White House gingerbread houses.

    Front Entrance
    From the Front of the Library
    Front Entrance
    Front Entrance
    The Current Exhibit
    Statue Outside the Front Doors
    Buffalo Coat
    Congressional Gold Medal for Louis L’Amour
    Chuck Wagon
    Typical Western Saddles
    Chaps
    The Evolution of the Cowboy Hat and Birth of the Stetson
    Wild Chair
    Cattle Car
    Branding Irons Including the One Used ByWill Rogers
    The History of the Branding Iron
    Barbed Wire Was Patented
    Modern Cattle Ranching Utilizes Helicopters
    Rodeo Attire
    Reagan’s 1960 Jeep
    The Exhibit Has a Rifle Demo
    Yellowstone Television Series Costumes
    Wagon
    Trigger of Roy Rogers Fame
    Christmas Tree in the Gift Shop – Ornaments for Sale
    A Piece of the Berlin Wall
    Inauguration Clothing for the Reagan’s
    Nancy’s Second-Hand Rose Costume
    Clothes Worn by Nancy
    Sinatra Was a Huge Supporter
    In High School Nancy Starred in Her High School’s Play First Lady
    Air Force One
    Another View of Air Force One

  • Unlocking the Middle East with the Help of Nixon

    On a recent visit to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, my husband and I saw a special exhibit about the Middle East.

    The library curated an exhibit that does an excellent job at showing the culture and accomplishments of the people – including some exquisite jewelry, bowls and other artifacts. However, for me, the big takeaway is conflict and missteps in resolution.

    My husband and I are both huge movie buffs and really enjoyed the section about Lawrence of Arabia. If you haven’t seen Peter O’Toole in the 1962 movie, please do so. Thomas Edward Lawrence started his Middle East adventure with high hopes. By the end of the Arab Revolt, he was so frustrated by the British mishandling of the Middle East that he turned down a knighthood from King George V.

    The exhibit is thorough at explaining the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916 which essentially divided the Middle East into sections without taking into consideration religion and other cultural differences.

    The background stories of the last Shah of Iran, Golda Meir and Anwar El-Sadat are all covered in this comprehensive exhibit as is the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956.

    Nixon was in the White House during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Hence, the exhibit has numerous photos of Nixon in Israeli as well as in Egypt and Syria. My favorite photo is of Nixon and Sadat speaking with one of the Pyramids in the background.

    Lawrence of Arabia