At the end of the Obama presidency a question was posed to architects around the world: Who wants to design the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago? More than 140 architecture firms applied, but only one got the proverbial golden ticket. Geoffrey Baer has the story.

Valerie Jarrett was a senior advisor to President Barack Obama for the entirety of both his terms, making her the longest-serving senior advisor in history. Now she is the CEO of the Obama Foundation and one of the key players in the creation of the Obama Presidential Center.

WTTW News visited the Obama Presidential Center for a firsthand look at the exhibits, installations and everything in between.

The Obama Presidential Center hosted a grand opening ceremony complete with a host of musical acts and notable guests.

Here is a look at Juneteenth, the oldest known U.S. celebration of the end of slavery. On June 19, 1865, over two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved African Americans in Texas were told they were free.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

Despite years of organizing and city ordinances being put in place, rising housing costs and investor activity continue to threaten gentrification in neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Presidential Center.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

The portrait by artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby is on display at the Obama Presidential Center. The unveiling of the portrait — which weaves together archival images, family albums and symbolic elements — comes ahead of the center’s grand opening celebrations this week.

Get ready for fun with this guide to neighborhood street fests, art shows, outdoor concerts, cultural celebrations and events of all sizes across Chicago and the suburbs.

While events for the community are planned for the entire weekend to celebrate Puerto Rican pride and culture, this year also honors the history of Chicago’s Boricua community — marking the 60-year anniversary of the first Division Street riot.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

“Flyway City,” a new exhibit at the Chicago Architecture Center, calls on Chicagoans to do better by birds. It shows solutions that are saving lives.

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.

The water is already on at some Chicago Park District splash pads, just in time to provide relief from summer’s first heat wave.

The campus, sprawling across historic Jackson Park, houses basketball courts, gardens, a branch of the Chicago Public Library and an eight-story museum. The multi-use space is in sharp contrast with traditional presidential libraries.