The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home was constructed in Dixon, Illinois, in 1891; its design is fairly typical of American houses during the time period.[2] The house's original owners were William C. and Susan Thompson; it was eventually sold, in 1917.[2] The home's most significant period was between 1920 and 1923 and between 1975 and 1977 when it changed hands twice.[2] In August 1980 a group of local residents, led by Lynn Knights of Dixon, Illinois, purchased the home. The group was then known as the Reagan Home Preservation and Restoration Committee.[2]
National Historic Site designationedit
The home is open to the public and operated by Young America's Foundation. On February 6, 2002, (Public Law 107-137), the United States Secretary of the Interior was authorized to purchase the property from the foundation and establish a U.S. National Historic Site[3] under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS).[4][5] The law specifies that the site will not be designated as the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site until after the Department of the Interior acquires the property.[4]
The foundation made a point of pride in receiving no funding from the state or federal government, in keeping with Reagan's motto that "government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem." However, visits dwindled to 5,000 per year by 2019, and the house increasingly fell into disrepair. In 2018, the foundation's perilous finances forced it to offer to sell the home to the National Park Service, which manages 16 other presidential homes.[6] However, in December 2020, Young America's Foundation stepped in to protect the property and preserve the ideas and principles President Reagan developed while there for future generations, just as YAF has preserved and protected Ronald Reagan’s beloved Rancho del Cielo in Santa Barbara, California.[7]
Architecture and designedit
The 1891 house is cast in the popular Queen Anne style.[8] The two-storey house rests on a stone foundation and is topped with a gable roof which was originally covered with cedar shingles.[2]
Historic significanceedit
National Register significanceedit
The Reagan Boyhood Home is most significant as the home of 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his family from late 1920 until 1923.[2] Reagan was nine years old at the time and in grade school. Though the family moved from the house they remained in Dixon throughout the former president's formative years.[2] For its association with Reagan and significance in the area of politics and government the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places[9] on March 26, 1982.
Reagan at the houseedit
Ronald, Nancy, and Neil Reagan outside the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home, 1984
According to the National Register of Historic Places documentation, Ronald Reagan stated that the house was associated with important events of his childhood.[2] However, his brother Neil was quoted as saying that the house designated the Boyhood Home is the "wrong one for Ronald's principal memories of the town (Dixon)."[10] One author, James E. Combs, called Dixon's claim that the "Boyhood Home" is the actual boyhood home of Ronald Reagan a bit bogus considering the Reagans moved often and only lived in the house for about two years.[11]
While they lived in the home the Reagan brothers shared a second-floor bedroom, despite the house having three bedrooms. Ronald's mother used the third as a work room.[12] The lone outbuilding on the property was used by the brothers for such activities as raising rabbits.[12] In the house's side yard Ronald and his brother would participate in pick-up football games.[12]
^Cannon, Lou. President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime, (Google Books), PublicAffairs, 2000, p. 178, (ISBN1891620916).
^Combs, James E. Phony Culture: Confidence and Malaise in Contemporary America, (Google Books), Popular Press, 1994, p. 96, (ISBN0879726687).
^ abcAngelo, Bonnie. First Mothers: The Women Who Shaped the Presidents, (Google Books), HarperCollins, 2001, p. 312, (ISBN0060937114).
Further readingedit
Misner, Marlin E. History of the Reagan Home: The Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois, S.N., 2005, (ISBN0977142205).
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site.
Reagan Boyhood Home, official site, accessed June 26, 2012.
House Report 107-268 - Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to Establish the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site, and for Other Purposes", (includes link to full information on H.R. 400), THOMAS.gov, accessed January 23, 2009.
January 01, 1970
ronald, reagan, boyhood, home, house, located, hennepin, dixon, illinois, which, 40th, president, united, states, ronald, reagan, lived, youth, beginning, 1920, building, listed, national, register, historic, places, 1982, home, open, visitors, from, april, oc. The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home is the house located at 816 S Hennepin Ave Dixon Illinois in which the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan lived as a youth beginning in 1920 The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 The home is open to visitors from April to October Ronald Reagan Boyhood HomeU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of IllinoisShow map of the United StatesLocation816 S Hennepin Ave Dixon IllinoisCoordinates41 50 10 N 89 28 50 6 W 41 83611 N 89 480722 W 41 83611 89 480722Arealess than one acreBuilt1891Architectural styleQueen AnneNRHP reference No 82002580 1 Added to NRHPMarch 26 1982 Contents 1 History 1 1 General 1 2 National Historic Site designation 2 Architecture and design 3 Historic significance 3 1 National Register significance 3 2 Reagan at the house 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory editGeneral edit The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home was constructed in Dixon Illinois in 1891 its design is fairly typical of American houses during the time period 2 The house s original owners were William C and Susan Thompson it was eventually sold in 1917 2 The home s most significant period was between 1920 and 1923 and between 1975 and 1977 when it changed hands twice 2 In August 1980 a group of local residents led by Lynn Knights of Dixon Illinois purchased the home The group was then known as the Reagan Home Preservation and Restoration Committee 2 National Historic Site designation edit The home is open to the public and operated by Young America s Foundation On February 6 2002 Public Law 107 137 the United States Secretary of the Interior was authorized to purchase the property from the foundation and establish a U S National Historic Site 3 under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service NPS 4 5 The law specifies that the site will not be designated as the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site until after the Department of the Interior acquires the property 4 The foundation made a point of pride in receiving no funding from the state or federal government in keeping with Reagan s motto that government is not the solution to our problem Government is the problem However visits dwindled to 5 000 per year by 2019 and the house increasingly fell into disrepair In 2018 the foundation s perilous finances forced it to offer to sell the home to the National Park Service which manages 16 other presidential homes 6 However in December 2020 Young America s Foundation stepped in to protect the property and preserve the ideas and principles President Reagan developed while there for future generations just as YAF has preserved and protected Ronald Reagan s beloved Rancho del Cielo in Santa Barbara California 7 Architecture and design editThe 1891 house is cast in the popular Queen Anne style 8 The two storey house rests on a stone foundation and is topped with a gable roof which was originally covered with cedar shingles 2 Historic significance editNational Register significance edit The Reagan Boyhood Home is most significant as the home of 40th U S President Ronald Reagan and his family from late 1920 until 1923 2 Reagan was nine years old at the time and in grade school Though the family moved from the house they remained in Dixon throughout the former president s formative years 2 For its association with Reagan and significance in the area of politics and government the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places 9 on March 26 1982 Reagan at the house edit nbsp Ronald Nancy and Neil Reagan outside the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home 1984 According to the National Register of Historic Places documentation Ronald Reagan stated that the house was associated with important events of his childhood 2 However his brother Neil was quoted as saying that the house designated the Boyhood Home is the wrong one for Ronald s principal memories of the town Dixon 10 One author James E Combs called Dixon s claim that the Boyhood Home is the actual boyhood home of Ronald Reagan a bit bogus considering the Reagans moved often and only lived in the house for about two years 11 While they lived in the home the Reagan brothers shared a second floor bedroom despite the house having three bedrooms Ronald s mother used the third as a work room 12 The lone outbuilding on the property was used by the brothers for such activities as raising rabbits 12 In the house s side yard Ronald and his brother would participate in pick up football games 12 See also editBirthplace of Ronald Reagan H C Pitney Variety Store Building Tampico Main Street Historic District Ronald Reagan TrailReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b c d e f g h Redebaugh Caroline Ronald Reagan s Boyhood Home National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form April 24 1981 HAARGIS Database Illinois Historic Preservation Agency accessed January 22 2009 Not to be confused with the home s 1982 listing on the U S National Register of Historic Places a b Public Law 137 107 February 6 2002 107th United States Congress accessed January 20 2009 Reagan turns 91 CBS News February 6 2002 accessed January 23 2009 Mcclell Edward 23 November 2019 How Reagan s Childhood Home Gave Up on Reaganism POLITICO Retrieved 23 November 2019 YAF Saves Ronald Reagan s Boyhood Home Young America s Foundation Retrieved 2022 04 19 Property Information Report Reagan Ronald Boyhood Home HAARGIS Database Illinois Historic Preservation Agency accessed January 22 2009 Not to be confused with the U S National Historic Site designation Cannon Lou President Reagan The Role of a Lifetime Google Books PublicAffairs 2000 p 178 ISBN 1891620916 Combs James E Phony Culture Confidence and Malaise in Contemporary America Google Books Popular Press 1994 p 96 ISBN 0879726687 a b c Angelo Bonnie First Mothers The Women Who Shaped the Presidents Google Books HarperCollins 2001 p 312 ISBN 0060937114 Further reading editMisner Marlin E History of the Reagan Home The Boyhood Home in Dixon Illinois S N 2005 ISBN 0977142205 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site Reagan Boyhood Home official site accessed June 26 2012 House Report 107 268 Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to Establish the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site and for Other Purposes includes link to full information on H R 400 THOMAS gov accessed January 23 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home amp oldid 1158674138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
