The Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, officially opens on June 19 after more than a decade of planning and construction, costing over $850 million. The former president himself will lead the opening.
First visitors will be greeted by statues of Barack and Michelle Obama. Located in Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side, the center includes a museum, public forum, library, and youth recreation area.
The 7.8-hectare site features a 69-meter granite obelisk as the centerpiece, housing a museum dedicated to the first African American president.
Visitors can explore Obama's life from birth to his last days in the Oval Office and enjoy his favorite "Obama Burger" at the cafeteria for $15.50.
The center reflects key policies of Obama's presidency (2008-2016). Exhibits include his youth on the first floor, 2008 election victory on the second, and presidential achievements on the third.
