I visited the Obama Presidential Center, the most expensive presidential library in US history. Here are 15 things that surprised me most.
The Obama Presidential Center is the most expensive presidential library in US history. Its 19-acre campus houses a museum and other community spaces.
I recently visited the Obama Presidential Center during its opening week in Chicago's South Side. This $850 million center offers a unique, immersive experience that differs from other traditional US presidential libraries. The sprawling 19.3-acre campus, located eight miles south of downtown in the historic Jackson Park, provides a spacious, neighborhood-scale feel with lush greenery, walking trails, a sports center, playground, restaurants, and a public library.
The museum, housed in a 225-foot tower, features an 88-foot-tall video screen that displays historic speeches, images, videos, songs, and poetry, guiding visitors through America's civic history. The museum's first exhibition level takes visitors through a broad sweep of American history leading up to the Obama presidency, covering topics such as emancipation, women's suffrage, organized labor, and the Civil Rights Movement. This approach provided a valuable context for understanding the America the Obamas were born into.
One of the most surprising aspects of the center was the personal keepsakes from Barack and Michelle Obama's family history displayed throughout the museum. The center's approach to presenting the Obamas' presidency is not limited to the Obamas themselves, but rather provides a broader perspective on the context in which they operated.
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