On my way home I decided to finally stop in Dixon and visit Reagan's boyhood home. While the house itself has been remodeled and the furnishings are not original to the Reagan family, it was still enjoyable walking through the place that once housed our 40th president. The plate on the dining room table was the one that President Reagan ate from when he returned to Dixon for the dedication ceremony. It was also of interest to find out that the wallpapering was chose by the Reagan family to match the appearance of the home during their time their. This trip down memory lane is well worth the $5 charge and the movie shown prior to the home visit was enlightening. .
To see the humble beginnings of our presidents is enlightening. This house is no exception. It's a simple house and young Ronald Reagan was loved and comforted living there. Many volunteers have made the house even nicer over the years. When he visited it, he stepped back in time. Visitors can too.
My husband and I toured the Regan boyhood home last month and the tour guide was thorough, telling us stories about his life some which I learned first hand. We thoroughly enjoyed the hour long tour. We also went to the school which he attended down the street for additional information. Very humble beginnings.
Volunteers make this home what it is. Many people put time into remodeling the home and strove to make it realistic for the time President Reagan lived there. They sought old floor plans and sent the period Sears catalog to the Reagan family to pick out what furnishings they remembered being there. That dedication to detail carries through with the volunteers who work there now who really understand President Reagan's history. I would encourage local people who have not taken the time to go through it to do so as well. As I recall there are donations accepted.
If you really want to know about the home that without doubt had such an influence on "creating" Reagan. This is a must see.
Loved seeing Ronald Reagan's boyhood home. The movie needs to be updated. But, the tour guide was incredibly informational. Just seeing what this president had as a child makes you appreciate what he had to do to become the man he was. Plan about 30-40 minutes total for the entire tour.
A great place to visit, with very helpful guides. The is also a nice gift shop, and nice places to eat on Dixon. As Spring goes on, the grounds should be beautiful, as the crews have been out already, spicing everything up. The home isn't ADA compliant, and cannot be made to be, because iof restriction from the Historic Registry, so the upper floor wouldn't be able to be viewed by wheelchair-bound persons.
We love hearing about great experiences at the Reagan Home. Thanks for sharing yours with everyone! Happy travels!
I visited the home with my 11-year-old, so the cost was only $5 for the 2 of us. The information center next door (where you get your tickets) has just the right amount of displays to keep you interested but not overwhelmed or bored. We went at a very leisurely pace, and it took about an hour.
Great spot to stop and learn about a great American President! I would highly recommend it! The $5 fee is worth the price and kids 11 and under are free. My kids stayed interested the whole tour.