The Obama Presidential Center is set to open this month on the South Side of Chicago. It offers a look into former President Barack Obama’s legacy but does not serve as a traditional presidential library. Instead, it is a campus that includes basketball courts, gardens, ball fields, a children’s playground, and a branch of the Chicago public library. The highlight is an eight-story museum.
Visitors entering the museum are greeted by the word ‘hope’, part of several art installations throughout the center. A significant piece, ‘City of the Big Shoulders’ by Mark Bradford, extends from the mezzanine to the first floor.
“Hope and change were central themes in Obama’s 2008 campaign, leading to two terms in office,” Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, said.
The museum illustrates America’s journey towards becoming a more perfect union, a recurring theme in Obama’s speeches. Exhibits cover key historical events such as the Declaration of Independence, the suffrage movement, and the Civil Rights Movement. Upstairs, the museum details Obama’s first campaign, featuring political buttons and campaign materials. A documentary-style video revives the emotions surrounding his historic election as the first Black president.
Obama’s improbable victory over John McCain in 2008 is one of many stories retold. Exhibits showcase artifacts from Obama’s early life, such as his Nobel Peace Prize and school art projects. The museum displays a replica of the Oval Office during his presidency and features first lady Michelle Obama’s attire, including a simple dress from Target along with more formal gowns.
One notable absentee from the museum is Obama’s tan suit, which attracted attention in 2014. “He believes he gave it away,” Jarrett mentioned, but photos of the suit are on display. The Sky Room allows visitors to overlook Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods.
The museum features a timeline of Obama’s significant achievements, including Operation Neptune Spear that resulted in Osama bin Laden’s death and the Affordable Care Act. Some policies initially enacted during his tenure, like the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement, have since been reversed.
Jarrett hopes the center inspires visitors to pursue change. The center not only recounts the Obama’s story but also the broader American narrative. Idris Khan’s ‘Sky of Hope’, found on level five, encourages visitors to reflect on their roles in driving change.
A new branch of the Chicago Public Library is near the entrance, and a bronze sculpture of President and Mrs. Obama created by StudioEIS welcomes visitors in the plaza.