Public Gets Its Turn to See Reagan Library : Simi Valley: Six hundred people visit the brand-new facility within the first hour of its being opened to everybody.

After a week of invitation-only celebrations, Caroline Hair of Simi Valley was not to be deterred from touring the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library moments after it opened its doors Wednesday to the public.

“This is where I wanted to celebrate my birthday,” Hair said, pushing her 2-year-old in a stroller through the museum. Her adoration of Reagan began when she was a Goldwater Girl in 1964, supporting the presidential candidacy of former Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona).

Reagan showed up at a campaign event and signed a white felt hat that she wore as part of her Western costume. “I think Ronald Reagan will be the greatest President we’ve ever had,” Hair said. “The museum confirms it.”

Hair was one of nearly 600 people who pressed into the Reagan library and museum in the first hour.

A steady stream of cars snaked up Presidential Drive throughout the day, carrying admirers of the former President and others who were not invited to Monday’s formal dedication or Tuesday’s Community Appreciation Day for local leaders and their friends.

By closing time, 2,636 visitors had passed through the museum that celebrates Reagan’s life and presidency.

The gift shop was mobbed by souvenir hunters immediately after the doors opened. Jamie Zinn of Agoura Hills led a mad dash for the store before seeing the museum’s exhibits.

She and her husband, Dwight, arrived at the cash register triumphantly after scooping up six autographed copies of Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s biographies and a collection of Ronald Reagan’s speeches. “We collect these things, we have them on display,” Zinn said. “Some of our friends don’t understand.”

The Zinns spent nearly $300, $50 for each book signed by the former President and $35 for those signed by the former First Lady.

Not all of the first-day visitors were admirers of the ex-President. “We may live in Reagan Country, but we are not Reagan fans,” said Breck Petrick of Newbury Park. “The truth of the matter is, we would never pay to come here.”

As a way to thank the surrounding community for its warm reception, library officials decided to waive the usual $2 admission fee through Sunday for Ventura County residents. Regular admission is $2 for visitors ages 16 to 61, $1 for those 62 and older and free for children 15 and under.

“You don’t have to be a Reagan fan to be curious,” said Burleigh Wilkins, a UC Santa Barbara philosophy professor who lives in Moorpark. “I think he should have been impeached, but that’s ancient history now.”

Wilkins zipped through the exhibit area and was one of the first to leave. “Basically, it is a shrine,” he said, “but eventually it will be a research library. And that’s wonderful for the county.”

Jerry and Barbara Meyers, vacationing from Iowa, dropped by the library on their sightseeing tour of the state. “We did San Francisco and the coast. We did Escondido, the Lawrence Welk village, a resort down there. Now the Reagan library. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” Jerry Meyers said.

Wednesday’s public opening comes after a series of private events for Reagan’s former aides and political contributors. The dedication ceremony Monday was framed by a historic meeting of five living presidents.

“I was taken in by the ceremonies, but this is what it is all about,” said Library Director Ralph C. Bledsoe. “We had people coming up this morning at 7:30 wanting to get in. This is the big day for me.”

The library, off Madera Road between Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.