Chicago Public Library

Barack and Michelle Obama participated in a storytime session at the Obama Presidential Center's library branch in Chicago, reading Maurice Sendak's 'Where the Wild Things Are' to students. Photojournalist Ashlee Rezin captured the moment during the event's interactive storytelling.

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised the first 100 visitors to the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The event included a book reading and a dedication ceremony with notable attendees. The center features a museum, library branch, and public spaces near the University of Chicago.

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised the first 100 visitors to the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. They read 'Where the Wild Things Are' to children and interacted with guests at the center, which features a museum and public spaces. The center's Juneteenth opening followed a dedication ceremony with notable attendees, and tickets are sold out through November.

Barack and Michelle Obama surprised the first 100 visitors to the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, personally greeting them and reading 'Where the Wild Things Are' with LeVar Burton. The museum, which includes a Chicago Public Library branch and public spaces, opened on Juneteenth with sold-out tickets through November.

Barack Obama's presidential center opens in Chicago on Juneteenth, a day celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S. The center aims to inspire community change and includes exhibits on Obama's presidency, a library, and spaces for reflection. Juneteenth, now a federal holiday, marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops declared freedom for enslaved people in Texas.

The Obama Presidential Center is not an official presidential library operated by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as it opted out of the NARA system in 2017 to avoid costly endowment requirements and maintain design control. Instead, a Chicago Public Library branch is located on the campus, but it does not house Obama's official presidential records or artifacts.

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, costing $850 million, opens on June 19. It features a Sky Room with panoramic views, 28 site-specific art installations, and a 19.3-acre campus with a museum, community spaces, and a Chicago Public Library branch. Designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, it includes a monumental artwork by Idris Khan and a basketball court.

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, opening on Juneteenth, features a museum, library, basketball court, and green space. The $850 million campus aims to inspire community change and will host free public events, including a grand opening from June 19-21.