RONALD REAGAN'S PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ( Part 2 ) AIR FORCE ONE, Berlin Wall and Reagan's final resting place

The Air Force One Pavilion contains Air Force One that flew from 1973 – 2001.  It is the most important artifact in this library...According to the reading material on the wall --- " This Air Force One flew Presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, George H. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush ".....The Air Force One is a Boeing 707 in a glass walled hangar over looking the valley. This is Air Force One, has been long retired (  in the early 1990's ) and from what I gathered is that the new Air Force One is a Boeing 747.

Before we move on to this part of Reagan's Presidential Library and Museum... Photography is not allowed inside the AIR FORCE ONE. Although The Reagan Library is surprisingly unrestricted to photographers. The only area that is off limits for photography is onboard Air Force One. Otherwise, you are free to draw your camera whenever you please, as long as you know how to turn off the flash. Touching any of the displays inside the plane and/or sitting onboard the aircraft are strictly prohibited. There are some guides inside to make sure NO ONE can take photos aboard the aircraft.

This impressive plane rests on pedestals and there is a walkway that circles the plane which allows you to view it from all angles.

RONALD REAGAN'S PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ( Part 1 )

One of the highlights of my trip to the States this year was visiting the RONALD REAGAN Presidential Library and Museum at Simi Valley, California. There was so much to see and capture on my camera that I decided to make 2 blogs on the Reagan Presidential Library.... Come and join me as I wander around this 100 acre site which also houses the Air Force One ( the presidential plane ) and final resting place of President Reagan.

This library is one of California's most beautiful and unique destinations. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is about 50 minutes away from downtown Los Angeles --- perched on a mountaintop with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, Simi Valley and the Pacific Ocean. I would advise you to allot at least 3 -  4 hours just walking around the whole place. The museum is opened daily from 10am till 5pm. There is an entrance fee  ( $ 12 - for visitors , $ 9 - for senior residents and FREE for all children below 10 years old ) you pay before entering the library. Guides will greet you at the reception desk to show you where to start your tour around the Library and where you can rent an audio phone to help you as you go on your tour. There are 18 galleries that pay tribute to Reagan. You can act in a movie with Reagan, deliver his inaugural address with a teleprompter ( this is fun), set the table for a state dinner, learn about Reagan's economic policies in interactive games, read his handwritten diary, ride a horse alongside Reagan at Rancho del Cielo, and much, much more. There is also a full-scale Oval Office replica of when Reagan was president and a 9 1/2 foot section of the Berlin Wall on display in the  garden.

Before entering the Main Hall --- you will be greeted by a life size statue of Reagan.. and a big photo which Reagan used as his official photo during his presidency.