Here, amid the bustle of Austin, lies the Reagan Garden a peaceful haven. Zilker Botanical Garden is a jewel in Austin. The Reagan Garden is nestled within Zilker Metropolitan Park. It sits in the heart of downtown Austin. The themed gardens are interconnected. They have pathways for all ages and abilities.
Zilker Botanical Garden includes the Taniguchi Japanese Garden. It also has the Hartman Prehistoric Garden and Rose Garden. Heritage live oaks offer shade. Streams and Koi-filled ponds provide tranquility. The Reagan Garden offers a respite from the busy city.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Grounds host special events. Corporate and non-profit organizations can book events. Social engagements like weddings are not permitted. The venue has breathtaking spaces for unforgettable events. The library’s catering department creates exceptional cuisine. They offer end-to-end planning services. The team draws on experience from cultural destinations around the world. They design menus to complement the backdrop. The backdrop enhances the historical significance. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library can host events ranging from 10 to 3500 guests.
The Air Force One Luncheons and Tours are popular. Large groups can enjoy lunch under the wings of Air Force One. They also have an exceptional tour experience. Both programs include a docent-led tour of the Library. Guests visit the Air Force One Pavilion. They can take a self-guided tour of special exhibits. A delightful lunch follows.
The Air Force One White House Luncheons are for groups of 40 or more. This lunch includes linen and china service. Fresh flowers decorate the tables. Professional wait staff attends to the group. The Air Force One Barbecue Buffet is for groups of 30 or more. This buffet includes catering staff. They oversee and restock the lunch. Linen and china service is provided. It creates a truly exceptional buffet experience.
A statue of John Henninger Reagan once stood on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Pompeo Coppini created the outdoor sculpture. George W. Littlefield commissioned it in 1919. It was meant for the Littlefield Fountain. The statue was installed on the university’s South Mall in 1933. It remained there until its removal in 2017.
Littlefield donated funds for a Memorial Gateway in 1919. It was to honor the Confederate dead from the Civil War. Coppini was hired to design the monument. It would include statues of notable figures. These figures were from Texas and the American South. The memorial was redesigned as the Littlefield Fountain. It was dedicated to university students who died in World War I.
Coppini sculpted bronze statues of John Henninger Reagan. He also sculpted five other Texan and Confederate notables. Littlefield chose these figures. They were to be displayed around the fountain. Campus architect Paul Cret installed the statues along the South Mall instead. They were placed there in 1933. This happened when construction of the fountain complex was completed.
Controversy grew over Confederate monuments in public spaces. This started in 2015 and accelerated in 2017. The statues on the university’s South Mall attracted criticism. In March 2015 the student government called for the removal of the statue of Jefferson Davis. In August the university removed the statues of Davis and Woodrow Wilson. They were placed in storage. In August 2017 the university removed Reagan and the other Confederate statues.
Now as you stroll through Reagan Garden, remember the past. Consider the stories that the statues once told. Reflect on the history. The Reagan Garden remains a place for contemplation. It is a green space for the community to enjoy.