New video into the sprawling Obama Presidential Center in Chicago revealed a sneak peek of what the venue will look like, which includes everything from a full-size basketball court, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, acres of green space and a full museum highlighting Obama’s years in the White House.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“It is a living, breathing legacy, because our hope is is that people bring change back to their communities,” Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett said in an interview with NBC News.The campus, located at 6001 S.Stony Island Ave.
on the South Side, officially opens to the public on Juneteenth, more than a decade after the former president chose his hometown of Chicago for the project.But tens of thousands of people — friends and family of museum staff, students and journalists — have already been offered a sneak peek at the nearly 20-acre campus as crews finish final art installations and landscaping.Museum officials said the center, which received a donation from NBC parent company Comcast NBCUniversal, is expected to draw as many as one million visitors annually.Ahead of the grand opening, here’s what to know about the center.The Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side.Erin Hooley / AP fileWhen does the Obama Presidential Center open?According to a release from organizers, the grand opening festivities will take place from June 19-21, with a “free, open-house-style weekend commemorating this incredible milestone.”“These opening days are a preview of how the campus will be activated year-round to inspire, empower, and connect us all to bring about change,” a release from the center read.
“The campus is free and open to the public, and we want you there to bring it to life.”Details about the weekend festivities have not been fully released, but early releases indicated there will be live entertainment, pop-up food stations, �...