Politics
Obama Presidential Center to Open on Juneteenth: ‘Hope Is Getting a Permanent Home’
The Obama Presidential Center is set to open to the public on June 19. (Courtesy of Obama Presidential Center)
A decade after former President Barack Obama announced Chicago as his choice for what was then billed as a presidential library, the Obama Presidential Center has an opening date.
An invitation-only dedication ceremony will take place June 18, featuring yet-to-be-named entertainers and speakers.
Members of the public will be welcomed for their first look on June 19, coinciding with Juneteenth. The celebration will continue through June 21, with an open-house style schedule of live performances, family-friendly activities, food, art and storytelling.
In a video announcement released over the weekend, Obama struck many of the same optimistic notes that characterized his presidency.
“It is easy to look around right now and feel like the challenges we face are simply too big. But hope is not about ignoring the hard stuff,” he said. “It is that thing inside us that insists something better awaits if we are willing to work for it. Here on the South
Side of Chicago, hope is getting a permanent home.”
The center, he declared, is not a monument to the past.
“It is a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo. If you feel that way, this is your invitation to join us,” Obama said.
Former President Barack Obama takes in an exhibit during a recent visit to the Obama Presidential Center. (Courtesy of Obama Presidential Center)
Admission is free to the majority of the center’s amenities, including the surrounding grounds. But the museum itself will require time-ticketed entry. The fee structure has yet to be announced, but “will be in line with other Chicago cultural institutions,” officials said.
Tickets will go on sale in May, with details still to come.
While the opening of the center is expected to be an economic boon to Chicago, its construction has not been without controversy.
The site choice of historic Jackson Park and the ceding of 20 acres of public land drew criticism and resulted in a protracted lawsuit. The height of the museum, which towers over the community at 225 feet, also came under fire.
Residents of surrounding South Side neighborhoods, concerned about gentrification and rising housing prices, pressed hard for a community benefits agreement to preserve affordable housing.
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
