"A living and latent legacy": the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago prepares to open
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Chicago is gearing up for the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center this week, with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in the city to celebrate the launch of what organizers describe as a "living and latent legacy." According to a statement, the Obamas arrived in Chicago over the weekend and toured the expansive $850 million campus, which includes campaign memorabilia, presidential artifacts, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a regulation-sized basketball court, and more. Photos provided by the center captured the former president playing basketball on the premises and interacting with children at the center's new playground. Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, stated, "As we prepare to welcome visitors to the Obama Presidential Center, President and Mrs. Obama are eager to see how community members make the campus their own." The center was built to be a place where people can gather, have fun, find inspiration, create connections, and bring about change. The museum, located at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave. in South Chicago, officially opens to the public on Friday, June 19. It will be open over the weekend for what organizers have labeled an "open house" event, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, "fan zones," face painting, and a variety of activities. The private grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center is scheduled for Thursday, with the former president and first lady expected to be joined by numerous dignitaries during the ceremony. While campus events will be open to the public throughout the weekend, tickets for the museum itself are sold out, according to authorities. In addition to street closures, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry announced it will be closed to the public on Thursday, June 18, to support the grand opening. The project, costing approximately $850 million, encompasses both the political and personal realms of the country's first Black president. The museum tower, which requires paid admission, showcases campaign memorabilia and presidential artifacts, while the public areas of the expansive campus feature other significant elements for Obama: a new library, a regulation-sized basketball court, a new playground, a park, and more. The museum will also include an exhibit dedicated to his time in the Oval Office, featuring a replica of the office itself. It will be the first fully digital museum of its kind, foregoing numerous displayed official documents. Instead, visitors will experience high-tech and interactive exhibits covering the campaigns, key moments from Obama's presidency, and life in the White House. Iconic dresses worn by Michelle Obama will also be on display, with around a dozen outfits on mannequins behind glass, including a black and red dress designed by Narciso Rodriguez that the former first lady wore on election night in 2008 in Chicago.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
