Daniel Jordan 
(CLAIR) – The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley is home to one of the most innovative and engaging exhibits in the world of presidential history: the Ronald Reagan Hologram Theater.
The state-of-the-art hologram, which debuted on October 11, 2018, brings the 40th President of the United States back to life in a way few have ever seen before. While the theater will be temporarily closed from February 23, 2023, to accommodate the Reagan Library’s special exhibit, it is set to return in 2024, and it’s a must-see experience for both residents and visitors alike.
The hologram was created through a groundbreaking collaboration between the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Hollywood special effects experts, and a leading company in hologram celebrity recreations. This unique exhibit features three distinct scenarios, based on actual speeches and audio recordings of President Reagan, which rotate throughout the week in the Caruso Family Theater. This ensures that every word spoken by the holographic Reagan is historically accurate and true to his legacy.
The three scenarios are:
Whistlestop Train Tour during the 1984 presidential campaign – President Reagan discusses the state of the country and his vision for America’s future.
The Tack Room at Rancho del Cielo – President Reagan shares his thoughts on the Ranch, its importance in balancing the pressures of the Oval Office, and his ideas on freedom.
The Oval Office – President Reagan talks about the history of the world’s most powerful office, the decisions made there, and the people who visited him.
What sets this exhibit apart is the level of detail and authenticity in each scene. For example, the Ranch scene features one of President Reagan’s actual saddles, a western belt buckle, and a dog representing the Reagans’ dog, Victory. In the Oval Office and Whistle-stop Train scenarios, the actor wears President Reagan’s personal cufflinks and tie tack.
The Ronald Reagan Hologram Theater is the first of its kind to present a photo-realistic hologram to visitors seated just 12 feet away, making this an unparalleled and intimate experience.
As the exhibit reopens in 2024, Simi Valley residents and visitors should consider a visit to the library to experience this remarkable blend of history and technology firsthand.
Through this unparalleled hologram display, The Reagan Library and Museum remain dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of President Reagan.
The Gipper once said, “The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.”
This is not a hologram. There once was a real hologram of Ronald Reagan, made by Hans Bjelkhagen. A print of it was installed in the Reagan Library in time for the grand opening. Nancy Reagan saw it before the doors opened, and reportedly said “take that down immediately”. (Real holographic portraits are rather too detailed for some folks, his nose scars are evident). It went to the basement room for gifts and things, was later found in a pile with the light broken, and then it disappeared. The Reagan Library has denied even knowing about it, although there is a print in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Gallery.