Reagan Library

Happy American Archives Month!
As the first presidential library and museum to operate under the Presidential Records Act of 1978, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum holds over 65 million of President Reagan's presidential documents and personal collections. These records, held by the U.S. government on behalf of the American people, are preserved and made accessible to the public by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
NARA archivists are trained specialists in preserving and providing access to original materials, including paper, photos, maps, films, and digital records. With backgrounds in museums, archives, or history, they have deep knowledge of records throughout their life cycle. Their research and analysis skills ensure long-term preservation and availability for all Americans.
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📸: President Reagan and Nancy Reagan with Michael Deaver and Mary Jane Wick viewing 3 models of the proposed Reagan Presidential Library in the White House Billiard room, 03/10/1986. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/404525297)

Happy First Day of Fall! 🍁

📸: President Reagan and Nancy Reagan horseback riding at Camp David, 10/10/1981 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75855903)

The Reagan Library honors the life and legacy of iconic artist, Peter Max, who passed away on September 14, 2026. In 1981, Peter Max was invited by President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan to a Fourth of July Celebration on the South Lawn of the White House. There, Max painted six, 8-foot-tall paintings of the Statue of Liberty.
Peter Max also played a critical role in the Statue of Liberty restoration project. In 1982, President Reagan announced a Liberty-Ellis Island Commission for the restoration of the statue that culminated in a re-dedication ceremony on “Liberty Weekend,” July 3-6, 1986.
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Image: Peter Max painting the Statue of Liberty during the Fourth of July Independence Day Picnic for members of the White House staff and invited guests on the South Lawn, 7/04/1981. (c2798-10)

On this day in 1787, the United States Constitution was signed by delegates in Philadelphia.

200 years later, on September 17, 1987, President Reagan attended a “We the People” Bicentennial Celebration of the Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
📸: President Reagan during a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to attend a "We The People" Bicentennial Celebration of the Constitution at Independence Hall, passing through a military honor guard, 09/17/1987. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75855667)

President Reagan visited his ancestral home of Ballyporeen in County Tipperary, Ireland?

To learn more about President Reagan’s visit and his connection to Ireland, view our virtual exhibit, “President Ronald Reagan and Ireland”. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/exhibits/virtual-exhibits/president-ronald-reagan-and-ireland
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📸: President Reagan speaking to citizens of Ballyporeen, Ireland, 06/03/1984. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75853411)

Today, we remember the tragic events that took place on September 11 in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania 25 years ago. We honor and remember the lives lost and lives forever changed by the tragedy.

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Image: President Reagan's remarks to the 100th Annual Convention of the American Newspaper Publishers Association at Ellis Island, with the World Trade Center Towers in the background, 05/03/1987. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75855417)

📸: President Reagan riding horse "El Alamein," a present from Mexican President Portillo, at the Andrew de la Mater Ranch in Santa Ynez, California, 08/27/1981. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/276563263)

Let’s wave goodbye to this work week and get ready to enjoy a long weekend. Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend, everyone!

📸: President Reagan and Nancy Reagan waving at their departure via Marine One for the White House from Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Maryland, 06/03/1988. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/276564843

September 1st is World Letter Writing Day! Part of the Reagan Library’s collection consists of letters and correspondence from around the world. See some of these letters and more in a new interactive website, “Letters to the President,” that features records from across the Presidential Libraries’ collections in partnership with the National Archives Foundation.

Click the link to explore: https://letterstothepresidents.org
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📸: President Reagan working in the Oval Office, 10/26/1988. (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/276565011)

Today is ! In April 1985, a piece of fabric from the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first piloted flying machine, was flown on the Space Shuttle Discovery during Mission 51-D. On June 19, 1985, National Air and Space Museum director Walter J. Boyne then gifted it to President Reagan.
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Artifact ID: 1985.00650.01 (reagan.artifacts.archives.gov/objects/12141/piece-of-the-wright-flyer?ctx=8ed287d10f6fc9cdd33b40bcadc8535efee3dc48&idx=0)