A new museum dedicated to President Ronald Reagan is planned for his boyhood town of Dixon, Illinois, featuring sets and props from the 2024 biopic "Reagan." Young America's Foundation (YAF), which already preserves Reagan's Boyhood Home in Dixon and his California ranch, is partnering with the film's creators to establish the permanent exhibits. The museum is expected to open in 2028.
Exhibits will include a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, the Situation Room, and the Soviet leader's office, along with a replica of the wall of the Hilton Hotel where Reagan was shot. Hundreds of other artifacts from the film will also be displayed. YAF President Scott Walker stated that the museum aims to offer students and families a deeper understanding of Reagan's life and ideas, connecting them to his Midwestern roots and principles.
"Our hope now is with the connection with the ‘Reagan’ movie, we helped them film a number of the things, particularly at the ranch, created this bond, and then after the movie was done, I thought how cool would it be to connect [with] things like the Oval Office," Walker said. "And have students and families and other guests come in and have a chance not only to take a picture and see what it was like, but then ask questions about, ‘What did he learn here in the Midwest, what impact, what influences, what books, what life experiences shaped not just him becoming President of the United States, but one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century in the entire world?"
"Reagan" producer Mark Joseph expressed that by bringing film artifacts to YAF, visitors to Dixon can experience the story of Reagan's beginnings. "We hope this museum will be a place where fans of the movie can gather and enjoy the sets that our team worked so hard to build," he said.
Walker highlighted Reagan's humble upbringing as a key theme, emphasizing that his parents' financial struggles and his mother's resilience provided lessons in humility and the possibility of achieving the American Dream regardless of background. He noted that Reagan maintained this humility throughout his presidency.
The museum announcement coincides with the upcoming release of a director's cut of the "Reagan" film, featuring an additional 10 minutes of footage, set for nationwide release on September 25. Walker commented on the film's critical reception, noting a significant disparity between its low Rotten Tomatoes critics score and its high audience score. He attributed this to "snotty elitists" among critics, drawing a parallel to the critical reception Reagan faced during his presidency. Walker stated that despite initial criticism, Reagan's policies ultimately led to widespread support, as evidenced by his landslide re-election victory.