A Day Trip Close to Home

Nixon
Library

Yorba Linda, California · February 2023

37 37th President
8 Photos
1 Day Trip
Richard Nixon Presidential Library · Yorba Linda

Presidential for a Day

Twenty minutes from home, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum sits on the Yorba Linda lot where Nixon was born in 1913 — the little farmhouse his father built from a mail-order kit still stands on the grounds. Inside, the museum traces the full arc of the 37th president: the Presidential Seal set into the lobby floor, a full-size replica of his Oval Office (Resolute desk, gold drapes, and all), a sobering Vietnam War gallery, and quiet, lamplit recreations of his private moments.

Out back sits the real prize — the gleaming green-and-white presidential Sea King helicopter that once carried the commander-in-chief. You can climb the stairs and stand in the doorway, which is exactly the kind of thing that turns a quick day trip into an arms-in-the-air photo. We took turns being president for an afternoon.

The museum lobby with the Presidential Seal inlaid in the floor and a large portrait of Nixon on the wall
The museum lobby — the Presidential Seal underfoot, Nixon watching over the room.
Ako seated at the Resolute desk in the full-size Oval Office replica, gold drapes and presidential rug
Ako takes the Resolute desk in the full-size Oval Office replica.
Eddy seated at the Oval Office desk holding a phone, American flag and curtains behind him
Eddy takes a call from the Oval Office — flags and all.
A life-size grey sculpture of a Vietnam War soldier with helmet, rifle and radio handset
A life-size figure from the Vietnam War gallery, radio in hand.
Another grey life-size sculpture of a Vietnam War soldier frozen mid-advance
Another soldier from the same gallery, frozen mid-advance.
A lifelike statue of Nixon seated in an armchair writing on a notepad under blue lamplight
A lamplit recreation — Nixon at work on a yellow legal pad.
The green-and-white presidential Sea King helicopter on display outdoors with boarding stairs under a blue sky
Out back: the presidential Sea King helicopter, boarding stairs and all.
Eddy standing in the doorway of the presidential helicopter, arms raised triumphantly
Eddy, president for an afternoon, in the helicopter doorway.

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