Exhibit Opening: An American Christmas at the Reagan Library

An American Christmas is back!

Guests will enjoy a tour through our winter wonderland featuring 26 trees decorated to celebrate the defining moments of America’s road to greatness, from the Revolutionary Era to today. Each tree reflects the life and times of American society and culture during each decade between 1770 and 2020 and beyond, thus tracing the evolution of America.

Through the use of lights, ornaments and decorations, each tree becomes its own piece of magnificent art. Each tree is decorated with what is culturally historic and symbolic in each decade. Betsy Ross is there, embroidering the first American flag. Newspapers blare headlines from history. And an image of Ronald Reagan himself peeks out from one tree that celebrates a new era in the U.S. presidency.

The trees representing the 1700s feature copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Other trees bear ornaments representing inventions, popular games and music, and world events. An 1890s tree has a Wright brothers model plane and the first telephone, while a 1970s tree has ornaments such as an eight-track tape and a shark representing "Jaws," a popular movie at the time. The 1980s tree commemorates Ronald Reagan’s time as our nation’s 40th president, but it also celebrates the Cabbage Patch doll, Beanie Babies, Rubik's Cube and personal computers. Also on display will be a collection of beautiful hand-crafted Menorahs that were given to President Reagan while in office.

Admission prices to the Reagan Library include entry into both the Cowboy and An American Christmas special exhibitions.