To date, fourteen presidents of the United States have their museum and library, each located in different parts of the country. These consist of a museum of special artifacts from the former presidents, of their personal and public lives.
When a president finishes service, work begins on what will be the space where their story will be shared, and, in addition, public documents from their years in the White House are made public.
After eight years as President of the United States, Barack Obama left office on January 17, 2017. After that, the Obama Foundation worked on building what is now the Obama Presidential Center.
It is a 19.3-acre complex located in the historic Jackson Park on the South Side of Chicago.
This $1 billion project stands out from traditional presidential libraries by focusing on community activism, civic engagement, and a fully digital archive.
The centerpiece of the complex is a four-level museum that details Obama’s presidency, the arc of the presidential family, and base grassroots social movements.
Among the highlights are a life-size replica of the Oval Office and extensive displays of commemorative objects related to the president and First Lady Michelle Obama.
“We designed the center so that it would not be a lifeless mausoleum; I am too young for that, nor simply a place to see Michelle’s dresses, though I understand that will be the main attraction. We wanted it to be a vibrant and living celebration of the community, where we can learn together and share the joys of art, music, sport, and play; because it is in those moments that we remember our shared humanity and strengthen the bonds of trust that not only enrich our lives, but also strengthen our democracy,” Obama said in the opening speech for his presidential center.
Unlike traditional presidential libraries, the Obama Presidential Center is distinguished by its private character. Instead of partnering with the federal government to build and manage a publicly owned facility, the Foundation owns the complex, while the digital archives are managed separately by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
This presidential center is already open to the public and is expected to attract visitors from across the country in the coming weeks, although it remains open year-round.
More information at www.obama.org.
