CAN WE GO, MOM? HISTORICAL COMPACTS, MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITS ENLIVEN MUSEUMS.Byline: Chris J. Parker Correspondent TO PARENTS, a school holiday - like Monday's Presidents Day - might seem the perfect day to take a child to a presidential library. To students looking forward to a day off from school, that kind of field trip probably sounds like cruel and unusual punishment Such punishment as would amount to torture or barbarity, any cruel and degrading punishment not known to the Common Law, or any fine, penalty, confinement, or treatment that is so disproportionate to the offense as to shock the moral sense of the community. . It's not. ``We're very family-oriented and kid friendly,'' said Arianna Barrios Barrios is a name of Hispanic origin. The name may refer to: Persons
Of course, there's Disneyland ``kid-friendly'' and then there's museum ``kid-friendly.'' One is a place that children beg to see. The other induces begging, too, but usually to go home. That's not the case at Southern California's two presidential museums. Both the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. and the Nixon museum have interactive displays, hands-on exhibits and frequent activities geared to children. Most of the major displays at each museum include a multimedia element, whether it's a short video, audio tape or an interactive display. At the Nixon museum, for example, visitors can ``ask'' the 37th president one of 600 questions. Nixon's answers come from television interviews he had before his death in 1994. The hallways and display cases of these museums are filled with photographs, artifacts artifacts see specimen artifacts. and mementos of such significant 20th-century events as the Cold War, Watergate and nearly every presidential race from 1952 to '88. This may come as a surprise to anyone born before 1990, but this is history - kept alive for generations of visitors born after Nixon and Reagan left office in 1974 and 1989, respectively. Political opponents of the two Republican presidents would say there's a lot of historical rewriting going on at the museums. Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal Watergate scandal (1972–74) Political scandal involving illegal activities by Pres. Richard Nixon's administration. In June 1972 five burglars were arrested after breaking into the Democratic Party's national headquarters at the Watergate Hotel complex in Washington, , for example, is much less significant in the museum version of the story than in most history books. And Reagan is given full credit for ending the Cold War. Still, these are the Reagan and Nixon museums, and if there's anyplace where their side should be told, it's here. And there's a lot told. History students and the curious will consider the information interesting. Other visitors - including those too young to read - may get bored waiting for the next interactive TV screen. But school-age children - especially those studying American history - will be fascinated by the 20th-century artifacts. Both libraries have sections of the Berlin Wall, for example, on display. The Reagan museum opened in Simi Valley in 1991. It sits atop a wind-swept bluff overlooking the mountains and valleys of east Ventura County. The museum includes many permanent exhibits. For example, there's an authentic - but presumably pre·sum·a·ble adj. That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster. unarmed - land-based cruise missile cruise missile, low-flying, continuously powered offensive missile designed to evade defense systems. Although the German V-1 (1944) was a simple cruise missile, the cruise missile did not realize its potential until the 1970s, when the United States sought to , one of the handful remaining after the 1987 IMF IMF See: International Monetary Fund IMF See International Monetary Fund (IMF). Treaty between the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and the Soviet Union that did away with this class of nuclear missiles. The Reagan museum also has a full-scale replica of Reagan's Oval Office at the White House, furnished as it was when he left office. There's also a special display area honoring former first lady Nancy Reagan, along with a large display of gifts that the Reagans received from foreign dignitaries. The Nixon museum opened in north Orange County in 1990. It sits next to Nixon's birthplace, a small wooden house that Nixon's father built a few years before he was born. Admission to the museum includes a brief tour of the house, which displays such artifacts as the bed Nixon was born on and the piano he learned to play. Inside the museum, a half-dozen television sets scattered throughout replay significant moments in Nixon's political life, including the Nixon-Kennedy presidential debate of 1960 and Nixon's ``Checkers'' speech. Both museums have exhibit space that changes regularly. This is one of those months when exhibits change, and coincidentally the museums are taking up similar topics. On Sunday, the Reagan museum opens ``Spies: Secrets From the KGB KGB: see secret police. KGB Russian Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti (“Committee for State Security”) Soviet agency responsible for intelligence, counterintelligence, and internal security. , CIA CIA: see Central Intelligence Agency. (1) (Confidentiality Integrity Authentication) The three important concerns with regards to information security. Encryption is used to provide confidentiality (privacy, secrecy). and Hollywood.'' The exhibit will include high-tech gadgetry gadg·et·ry n. 1. Gadgets considered as a group. 2. The design or construction of gadgets. Noun 1. gadgetry - appliances collectively; "laborsaving gadgetry" and tales of espionage, and such Hollywood props as the shoe phone from television's ``Get Smart.'' Earlier this month, the Nixon museum opened ``Secret Treaties: Tools and Artifacts of Diplomacy.'' The exhibit includes spy paraphernalia, artifacts from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's trip to the Yalta Conference Yalta Conference, meeting (Feb. 4–11, 1945), at Yalta, Crimea, USSR, of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. and numerous significant treaties. Among the treaties are the Treaty of Westphalia and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States[1][2] to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico, that ended the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). . This is the first time the 454-year-old Treaty of Westphalia is on display in the United States. It ended the religious wars of the 16th and early 17th centuries in Europe and is considered by some scholars to be as significant to human development as the Declaration of Independence. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War The Mexican-American War[1] was an armed military conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas. Mexico did not recognize the secession of Texas in 1836; it considered Texas a rebel province. in 1848, giving the United States present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and Texas, along with parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Of course, all of that may sound a bit too much like school for some kids. Then again, how many classrooms have cruise missiles and shoe phones? IF YOU GO RICHARD NIXON LIBRARY AND BIRTHPLACE Where: 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. In north Orange County, 3 1/2 miles east of the 57 Freeway. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. How much: General admission is $5.95, $3.95 for seniors (62+) and students, $2 for children 8-11, $4.95 for active members of the military, free for children 7 and younger. Parking is free. Age appropriate: 7 and up. Food: No food is sold at the library, although there are a few vending machines that sell drinks. Food and drinks are not allowed inside the library or birthplace, but both are allowed on the grounds between the two buildings. For picnickers, there are a few benches and chairs scattered throughout the gardens, plus a large grass amphitheater that frequently doubles as a wedding site on weekends. In addition, there are numerous fast- food and sit-down restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood. Don't forget: A camera and film (no flash photography inside the museum, however), walking shoes walking shoes walk npl → chaussures fpl de marche walking shoes walk npl → Wanderschuhe pl walking shoes npl and a stroller for the youngest children. Parents should know: There are changing stations in the restrooms. The museum has a few exhibits with narrow access ways, making it difficult to navigate with a stroller. Presidents Day activities: On Sunday, a concert of baroque, romantic and contemporary composers. Information: (714) 993-5075 or www.nixonfoundation.org. RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY Where: 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. Off of Madera Road between the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway and Highway 23. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. How much: General admission is $5, $3 for seniors (62+), free for children 15 and under. Parking is free. Age appropriate: 7 and up. Food: The museum has a small eatery that serves a limited selection of hot foods prepared on site, sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Food and drinks are not allowed inside the museum, but the grounds have numerous spots for informal picnics including some spots with beautiful views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. In addition, there are numerous fast-food and sit-down restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood. Don't forget: A camera and film (no flash photography inside the museum, however), walking shoes and a stroller for the youngest children. Parents should know: There are changing stations in the restrooms. The museum has a few exhibits with narrow access ways, making it difficult to navigate with a stroller. Presidents Day activities: On Monday, an outdoor festival will include activities for kids, a ``Presidential Quiz Bowl,'' presidential look-alikes and an all-American lunch of hot dogs and cherry pie Cherry pie is a pie made with a cherry filling. Morello cherries (sour cherries) are often used in cherry pies. Cherries are expensive — and sweet varieties are best used eaten fresh and raw. Sour cherries are best for cooking and may be used fresh or preserved. . The outdoor events are free, but regular admission rates apply to the museum. Information: (805) 522-2977 or www.reaganfoundation.org. CAPTION(S): 7 photos, box Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Hail to the chiefs Youngsters learn `ancient' history at presidential museums (2 -- 3) Above, Students from Canyon Country view a piece of the Berlin Wall during a tour of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. You'll find memorabilia, historical papers and photos, including the one at the right of President Richard Nixon during his last days in office, at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda. (4) no caption (Richard Nixon Library) David Sprague/Staff Photographer (5) no caption (Ronald Reagan Presidential Library) (6 -- 7) There's plenty of Reagan memorabilia for sale at the library gift shop. At left, Caitlin Doud, 9; Raquel Bouchard, 8; and Tifania Nazzarian, 8; look at a model of Skylab at the Nixon museum. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer James Ku/Staff Photographer Box: (1) IF YOU GO (see text) |
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