The American
Presidential Museum
Heath Hawkins
 I think I was born
with elephant blood running though my veins. I have even considered
naming my children in such a way that they will have GOP as their
initials. Since my last name is Hawkins, I am not sure it would
work out. Don’t worry, I will try keeping my political opinions to
myself, so even you dirty Democrats can read on. Just kidding!
I tried for several
weeks to tour the American Presidential Museum in
Branson Missouri. It seemed that I
was never going to catch them open. I was always in town on Sunday
or Monday when they were closed. When I finally had the opportunity
to visit, I discovered my persistence was worth it.
 The
American Presidential Museum is an amazing
collection of American history that starts even before our very
first President was elected. When you enter the museum you are
immediately drawn to a scale replica of the oval office including
the President’s desk & chair, blue carpet, circular back windows and
even the Presidential seal on the floor. This is a perfect
opportunity to have your picture taken with the President in the
Oval Office. There was even a place for you to write a note to the
President or First Lady and the museum will send them to the White
House for you.
 The Oval Office is just two of the many large
exhibits you will have the opportunity to see as you tour the
American Presidential Museum. You tour at your own pace, but the
employees are very knowledgeable and can add that personal touch if
you have any questions.
The First Lady Inaugural Ball Dress Collection
was also very interesting. The museum has replicas of the dresses
that several of our First Ladies wore the day their husband took the
oath of office.
One room in the museum is dedicated to the
founding fathers of our country and the documents they created. You
get to see copies of the Constitution and many other documents that
have served as the basis for liberty and justice in America.
 I especially enjoyed the downstairs section of
the museum. There you will see one of President Reagan’s fortified
limousines. Next was my favorite exhibit, you get to climb aboard
Air Force One, as it was when Nixon served as President. I was
amazed at the size of the plan. Though they only have the front
section, it was not nearly as big as I expected. After looking
inside the cockpit I could not help but admire the skill of a pilot
who knows what those thousands of switches and gages mean.
Throughout the museum you will find displays
from past elections, books written by former Presidents, mementoes
from trips around the world, and even eggs from an official White
House Easter Egg Hunt just to mention a few. The history of the
White House and its past and present occupants come alive here.
Before you leave you will want to watch the
Presidential Bloopers video playing in the Kennedy Theatre. You are
sure to get a good laugh and see that the men who have served us as
President are still human, and they occasionally goof up.
One memento from our not-so-distant history
will help you cast your vote for one of the best museums in
Branson. The museum has an official voting booth/machine from the
Florida election disaster. No hanging, pregnant or dimpled chads
here; just a sure vote that the American Presidential Museum is a
winner.
 The museum
in Branson also houses a fantastic gift shop.
The gift show has lots of patriotic items as well as the types of
souvenirs that promote the museum, but my favorite was the political
party section. They have official Republican and Democratic Party
merchandise. I could not leave without an elephant tie tack and a
Bush/Chaney 2004 election campaign button. The museum alone is
worth the prince of admission.
My wife and I agreed
that the American Presidential Museum is a great way to spend a
couple hours in Branson. Unless you are planning a trip to
Washington D.C. you will not find this type of history anywhere
else. I am not sure about the little kids, but I think that your
teens will enjoy the exhibits, especially the replica of Air Force
One. An adult ticket is only $10, seniors are $9 and children are
FREE. Come when you are not in a hurry and spend as long as you
would like looking around.
The American
Presidential Museum is located just off Hwy 76, behind the Starlight
Theatre. The museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information visit
www.americanpresidentialmuseum.com or call the museum at (417)
334-8683. Tell them that Heath from the Branson Critic Online sent
you.
Contact Jason Heath Hawkins at
hhawkins@waynesville.k12.mo.us.
To ask for permission to use excerpts of Heath's articles
for print or digital means, must have the written consent of
BransonCritic.org.
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