New video of the sprawling Obama Presidential Center in Chicago revealed a sneak peek of what the venue will look like, which includes everything from a full-size basketball court, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, acres of green space and a full museum highlighting Barack Obama’s years in the White House.
“It is a living, breathing legacy, because our hope is that people bring change back to their communities,” Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett said in an interview with NBC News.
The campus, located at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave. on the South Side, officially opens to the public on Juneteenth, more than a decade after the former president chose his hometown of Chicago for the project. But tens of thousands of people — friends and family of museum staff, students and journalists — have already been offered a sneak peek at the nearly 20-acre campus as crews finish final art installations and landscaping.
Museum officials said the center, which received a donation from NBC News parent company Comcast NBCUniversal, is expected to draw as many as 1 million visitors annually.
Ahead of the grand opening, here’s what to know about the center.
When does the Obama Presidential Center open?
According to a release from organizers, the grand opening festivities will take place from June 19-21, with a “free, open-house-style weekend commemorating this incredible milestone.”
“These opening days are a preview of how the campus will be activated year-round to inspire, empower, and connect us all to bring about change,” a release from the center read. “The campus is free and open to the public, and we want you there to bring it to life.”
Details about the weekend festivities have not been fully released, but early releases indicated there will be live entertainment, pop-up food stations, “fan zones” with appearances from professional teams in Chicago and their mascots, face painting, story time and other family-friendly activities.
Officials noted that while the campus will be open to all, tickets to the museum are sold out for the opening weekend.
In addition to the grand opening, there will also be a ceremony held on June 18.
“The response to our Grand Opening Ceremony Official Watch Party on the nearby Midway Plaisance has been incredible, and requests for tickets for the in-person community gathering are now closed,” the center said. “You can still be a part of this historic moment from anywhere in the world. We will broadcast the entire ceremony live Thursday, June 18 so you can tune in from anywhere!”
The former president and former first lady Michelle Obama are both expected to come to Chicago for the grand opening.
What will be inside?
The roughly $850 million project covers both the political and personal realms of the nation’s first Black president. Campaign memorabilia and presidential artifacts are displayed in the admission-based museum tower, while public spaces of the sprawling campus feature other things important to Obama: a new library, full-size basketball court and picnic area with grills.
The museum will also feature an exhibit dedicated to his time in the Oval Office, with a replica of the office included within the museum itself.
It will also be the first fully digital museum of its kind, ditching scores of official papers on display. Instead, visitors will experience high-tech and hands-on exhibits spanning the campaigns, key moments of Obama’s presidency and life at the White House.
Iconic gowns worn by Michelle Obama will also be on display. Roughly a dozen outfits on mannequins are 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.
According to museum officials, the campus spans nearly 20 acres.
How to get tickets
Access to the museum will cost $30 for adults 12 and older, or $26 for Illinois residents. Admission for children ages 3 to 11 will cost $23, while Illinois residents will get a discount to $15.
Though the museum does charge an admission price, most of the campus is free and open to the public, including a Chicago Public Library branch, public art installations and park space around the campus.
The museum will use timed-entry tickets for admission, according to officials, and those tickets can be purchased in advance online.
There are several ways to get free admission to the museum, however, including free admission to all Illinois residents on Tuesdays, officials said.
It is recommended to get those tickets in advance, with proof of residency required at the door.
Illinois teachers, active-duty military, veterans and Chicago first responders also receive free admission, according to the museum’s website.
