| Related Links: RONALD REAGAN BIRTHPLACE/MUSEUM (for hours of operation)
Ronald Reagan Memorial Service: Sunday, June 13, 2004; Tampico Middle School; 2:30 p.m. Immediately following the memorial service, program includes 21-gun salute (Reagan Park), Refreshments (Fire Department).
Ronald Wilson Reagan, Republican, elected 33rd governor of the state of California, November 8, 1966, defeating two-term incumbent governor, Edmund G. (Pat) Brown; re-elected November 3, 1970. 40th President of the United States
RONALD REAGAN BIRTHPLACE & MUSEUM
111 MAIN STREET
TAMPICO, IL 61283
RE: Ronald Reagan - 40th President of the United States – Only President born in Illinois
President Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico on Feb. 6, 1911 in an apartment above a bakery. The bakery was purchased by the First National Bank in 1919 and continued as a Bank until the 1930's. The apartment where he was born has been refinished to look as it did when he was born there. The bank has been restored to again look like a working bank of the early 1900's. The store located to the South of the Bank originally was a grocery store and now houses the gift shop for the Reagan Museum.
When Ronald was 4 months old, the family moved from the apartment to a house on Glassburn Street. The house is located across the street from Reagan Park (originally known as Railroad Park). Ronald and Neil played on a cannon in the park as young children. He referred to the park and the cannon in several of his stories. When he was 4 years old, the Pitney Store, where his father, Jack Reagan worked, was sold and the Reagans moved to Chicago where Mr. Reagan worked for a short time at the Fair Department Store. The family then moved to Galesburg, where Mr. Reagan was employed as a store clerk. While there, Ronald learned to read at the age of 5, before starting to school. He attended Silas Willard School in Galesburg and skipped grade 2. The family then moved to Monmouth for a short time. They were called back to Tampico for Mr. Reagan to again work for Mr. Pitney, who had acquired his old store back. The family lived above the Pitney Store until moving to Dixon in December of 1920.
The Ronald Reagan Birthplace is a not-for-profit organization and privately owned. There are no governmental funds used in maintaining the museum and the staff members are all volunters. There is no charge to tour the Birthplace, but donations are always welcome.
The gift shop and Birthplace are open for tours from 10 – 4 Monday through Saturday and 1 – 4 on Sundays from April through October. We also take appointments for tours throughout the year.
The Tampico Historical Society Museum is open on week-ends during the summer or by appointment.
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The Tampico Historical Society and Reagan Birthplace wish to memorialize President Reagan by erecting a statue of a young Ronald Reagan on a cannon in Reagan Park. An artist has sketched plans for the statue and it would be a fitting tribute to be able to dedicate the statue during the Year-long Centennial celebration: (The fund was started as a memorial to Lloyd McElhiney, former docent of the Ronald Reagan Birthplace)
Contributions for the Statue Fund may be sent to:
Ronald Reagan Statue – P O Box 344 – Tampico, IL. 61283
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For more information, contact Ronald Reagan Birthplace – 815-438-2130
(Click on any box below)
Newspaper clippings referencing various Reagan family members (click on link)
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