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    Inside the Obama Presidential Center: See Photos

    Savannah HeraldBy 11 Mins Read
    Inside the Obama Presidential Center: See Photos

    From Hollywood to Home: Black Voices in Entertainment

    Key takeaways
    • Obama Presidential Center campus features the Museum, Forum, Chicago Public Library branch, Home Court, gardens, playground, and Sky Room.
    • Museum displays include a full-scale Oval Office replica, Mrs. Obama’s gowns, global memorabilia, and the We the People digital installation.
    • Commissioned art by 30 artists enriches the campus, highlighted by Njideka Akunyili Crosby's portrait in the Hope and Change Lobby.
    • Most spaces are free; the Museum requires timed tickets with Illinois resident Tuesdays free, and the digital Obama Presidential Library is available online.

    It’s Juneteenth, and the Obama Presidential Center is finally open.

    The newly built campus sits on 19.3 acres in Chicago’s South Side, in the historic Jackson Park neighborhood, and invites visitors of all ages from around the world to engage with the story of President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, explore the ideas and values that shape our democracy, and be inspired to spark change in their own communities. The Center was built to invite people to dynamic programs, cultural experiences, and public spaces.

    On the grounds, there are nine areas for locals and out-of-town visitors: the 3.7-acre-sized New Parkland, which revitalizes Jackson Park; the Museum, which features a four-floor journey from the founding of the United States to Obama’s campaign and presidency; the Forum—the civic and community space which includes the Elie Wiesel Auditorium, a state-of-the-art recording studio and media suite, Democracy in Action Lab, the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium, a restaurant, a cafe, and retail shop; a Chicago Public Library branch that includes the Presidential Reading Room; the 60,000 square foot Home Court— a multi-purpose space that includes an NBA regulationsize court, gymnasium, and community spaces; the John Lewis Plaza—a space for visitors to gather for performances, programs, and other events while serving as the entry point for the Forum, Museum and Library buildings; the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden filled with dozens of garden beds of local plants and native vegetables; the 1.25 acre-sized Playground featuring oversized animal structures, child-sized warblers’ nests, a climbing forest, and sun-covered slides; and the Sky Room which gives visitors a panoramic view of Lake Michigan from atop the Museum Building.

    Inside the Museum, visitors can see unique artifacts, including a full-scale Oval Office replica, iconic gowns, and fashion from Mrs. Obama, and memorabilia donated from grassroots supporters around the world. With an emphasis on “We the People,” an 88-foot-tall digital installation displays powerful imagery through speeches, songs, art, and poetry, demonstrating how language can be a catalyst for change.

    The campus also integrates a collection of 28 commissioned works by 30 artists to reflect the diversity of voices and stories that shape American life. The Obama Presidential Center was designed and built by a team of world-class architects and designers.

    The Obama Foundation, in close collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), created the Obama Presidential Library to digitally preserve the vast majority of records from the Obama presidency, making them available to anyone, anywhere, for free and online.

    As for admission, most of the campus is free and open to the public and follows the Chicago Park District’s hours. The Museum Building requires a ticket purchase with timed entry and will be free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays. The Museum also participates in Blue Star Museums, a nationwide program that offers free museum admissions to military personnel and their immediate families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day, as well as the Museums for All program, which offers free admission for those receiving food assistance.

    Check out photos of campus, and head over to Obama.org/visit for more information about tickets, hours of operation, and more.

     

     

     

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