Have you ever wanted to walk aboard Air Force One, or take a tour of the presidential Oval Office? How about touch a piece of the historic Berlin Wall? On Oct. 1, students can experience all of these things with Fresno State’s USU Productions and traveling down in a bus to Simi Valley to visit the Ronald Reagan Museum.
“Where else in California can visitors walk onboard an actual Air Force One aircraft that flew seven U.S. presidents,” said Melissa Giller, the chief marketing officer for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. “Touch an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall, or lay a hand on a real steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center after 9/11?”
The Ronald Reagan Museum is a presidential library that helps celebrate the history of the 40th president of the United States. The students who take the trip will be able to tour the museum where they will be offered knowledge of Reagan, as well as insight into the president’s life through many exhibits.
Fresno State’s USU Productions puts on many events throughout the year to help students get involved providing entertaining activities and but it also makes it so that those events are educational as well, Giller said.
This is the first time that Fresno State students and USU Productions will travel down to Southern California to visit this historic museum. Shawna Blair, program and events coordinator at the Student Involvement Center, helps USU Productions plan trips just like this every year. It tries to put on at least two a semester.
“This is definitely something worthwhile to take a student’s full day,” Blair said. “It is exciting because it is something new that we haven’t done before, and it is also a great time right now because of the elections that are coming up.”
The museum is home to many interactive displays and attractions that were very significant during Reagan’s run in his presidency. One of the most popular destinations is Air Force One pavilion, she said.
Students and visitors will be able onto walk on the very same plane that flew Reagan during his presidency, as well as six other presidents. Students will also be able to view Reagan’s presidential limousine and Secret Service Suburbans.
Students will also be able to explore many other exhibits in the museum such as checking out a piece of the historic Berlin Wall and seeing and exploring a replica of Reagan’s oval office.
The museum lets visitors explore many lifetime events ranging from Reagan’s boyhood to his presidency to even after his death. The library allows guests to connect with him and see what type of life he lived and be able to read up on his beliefs and what he supported, organizers said.
Dr. Lori Clune, an associate professor in the history department, said Reagan was a president who had a significant impact on the present day.
“Reagan was somebody that so many presidents, either Republican or Democrat, will refer to him as somebody that had influenced them,” Clune said. “Which is something that is pretty rare.”
After the students get done at the museum, the bus will then take them over to Ventura Harbor Village where they can have lunch on their own and explore the shops and beach.
Tickets are on sale now at the USU Information Center ”” $30 for Fresno State students with an ID. Those students may pay an additional $35 to bring along one guest.