One of my Los Angeles bucket list items was to visit both the Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries. I’ve ticked off both items in the last month!

First up: the Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Orange County.

The library was privately funded from its inception in 1990, on the same grounds where Nixon was born and lived for much of his childhood.

In 2007 the library received federal recognition and is now one of the twelve presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

There’s a miniature display of Nixon’s childhood home. The real thing is out back on the property — we will tour it at the end of our visit.

Here is a model of the Nixon coastal property, La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, CA.

The Pumpkin Papers headline makes me chuckle. The evidence found inside a gourd became key in the Alger Hiss trials.

My favorite part of the entire museum is this exhibit called World Leaders featuring statues of, well, world leaders.

We have Mao Tse-tung, Chou En-lai, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonod Brezhnev, Anwar Sadat, Golda Meir, Charles de Gaulle, and Winston Churchill.

Of all the people carved into stone, not one is American. Therefore the museum guests represent our country as they walk among these world leaders.

The quote from Nixon on the wall reads, “They are leaders who have made a difference. Not because they wished it, but because they willed it.”

Part of the Berlin Wall is on display below.

This timeline details the journey of Nixon’s wife Pat as she moved from Connecticut to California.

Interesting fact: shortly after moving to California, Pat pursued acting.

While it’s much more apparent at the Reagan Presidential Library, the connection between Hollywood and politics never ceases to amaze me.

Pat and Richard Nixon met during a community theater production of The Dark Tower, a mystery drama by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott.

A handful of historical gowns are on display, most notably the dress Tricia Nixon wore at her White House wedding in 1971.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the presidential limousine.

Upon our arrival at the museum, my sister and I watched the 30 minute intro video. It was produced “prior to the deaths of President Nixon and his wife” in the early 90’s, meaning the video is over 20 years old. I didn’t anticipate sticking around for the whole thing.

But we end up staying and learn a lot about the context of Nixon’s presidency. Our only complaint is that the video completely glosses over Watergate in about 20 seconds.

So Beth and I are pleased to discover a lengthy and informative Watergate section in the museum.

The release of Nixon’s paperwork, tapes, and other records were delayed a long time due to complications with Watergate. For example, some of the speeches he made as President (public addresses, mind you) were not stamped as declassified until 1988.

This ballroom and the adjoining grounds are available for weddings and other events. My sister and I agree it seems like an odd place to get married, but there’s no denying the beauty of these grounds. A group starts setting up as we cross through.

The grounds are gorgeous. An elementary school used to sit on this property before the museum was built.

Nixon’s birthplace and childhood home is located out back.

We wait for the next tour to begin. Once inside, we are mesmerized by the details.

Our guide’s name is Loren. He’s chockfull of stories about Nixon and this particular area of Orange County.

After touring the home where Nixon was born, we come full circle and visit his gravesite. He is buried beside his wife.

Nixon’s presidential helicopter is open to museum guests. As with Air Force One at Reagan’s Library, photography is not allowed inside the aircraft.

My sister and I pose in front of the presidential seal on display in the lobby.

One final look at the 37th president of the United States, Richard Milhous Nixon:

The Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is located at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886. The museum is open daily from 10am-5pm (Sundays from 11am-5pm). Admission is $12 for adults.

After your museum visit, be sure to stop at nearby Stefano’s for the tastiest panini of your life. Major thanks to my friend Brenda for the timely Facebook recommendation!

This one has rosemary chicken, avocado, and pancetta (“bacon on steroids,” according to the woman behind the counter). It exceeded all of my expectations.

Lucky for us Californians, we have access to two presidential libraries in the area. I’ll detail my tour of the Reagan museum soon!