I didn’t intend for this to be Presidents Week, but it just sort of happened, so let’s finish this freakin’ thing! Believe it or not, there is an actual Presidents Museum in a high school in San Diego. Yeah, talk about random. Started by one of the history teachers, Jim Fletcher, the collection of presidential memorabilia is displayed in the school library. In 1996 Mr. Fletcher began searching for presidential campaign memorabilia as a way to teach the seniors in his social science class about history. The Museum of the American Presidency officially opened that year with 2,000 presidential campaign items from all 44 presidents. The collection is actually quite impressive. Some items on display include Bill Clinton’s golf shoes, a smiling Richard Nixon shower head, and a 1980s “First Family Paper Doll Book” with Ronnie, Nancy, Ron Jr. and Patti Reagan and cutouts of clothes, accessories and furnishings. Some of the other Reagan collectibles include his beloved Western gear and Nancy’s rose-colored glasses as well as a framed picture of Frank Sinatra signed “Ron, you did it my way. Frank.”
A student favorite is a portrait of President William McKinley, drawn in one continuous line. An original Nathaniel Currier drawing from 1844 of all 11 presidents to that point, including President-elect James K. Polk, is also on display. A miniature “JFK 464” license plate, never used, is probably one of the more unique items, while a display case full of Woodrow Wilson paraphernalia is worth at least $10,000. So how did Clairemont High School get all this stuff? Fletcher’s students wrote letters to collectors around the country asking for donations, which resulted in all of the items visitors and students can see today. This activity not only helped enliven the history class for students but led them to better appreciate the ideas and stories behind the campaigns and lives of U.S. presidents. So if you’re ever in San Diego, don’t worry…the museum is open to the public during school hours. Just go to the school’s front office, sign in and tell them you want to visit the library’s museum. And if you’re lucky, the school might let you into the meeting room (when it’s not in use) to see more of extensive collection.
