The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19th and the replica of the Oval Office is one of the main attractions
A life-size replica of the Oval Office is one of the main attractions of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which will be officially opened on June 19, a project worth around 850 million dollars.
Former President Barack Obama’s influence on the presidential museum is profound, from its South Chicago location to the textured stone that adorns its tower and the striped reading chairs that resemble those in his own home.
The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by friends and family of museum staff, students and journalists.
According to the Associated Press, tens of thousands of people have already had the opportunity to “take a look” at the space, as crews complete the latest artistic installations and landscaping work.
The project covers the political and personal sphere of the country’s first black president, from campaign objects to presidential artifacts displayed in the museum’s entrance tower, while the public spaces of the sprawling campus feature other things important to Obama: a new library, a basketball court and a picnic area with barbecue grills.
“This is a safe space where people can come and, yes, reflect on the historic moments of this presidency and the campaigns, but also come together as a community to think about the changes they can bring to their own neighborhood,” said Josh Harris, vice president of public engagement at the Obama Foundation, during a recent visit with the Associated Press.
The Obama Presidential Center will be the first fully digital museum of its kind, with no official documents on display. Instead, visitors will enjoy interactive, high-tech exhibits covering the campaigns, key moments of Obama’s presidency and life in the White House.
One of the biggest attractions is a life-size replica of the Oval Office, where there is a desk, the top drawer of which contains a copy of a handwritten letter from his predecessor, President George W. Bush, and Obama’s beloved BlackBerry cell phone, where visitors can sit and take a photo.
“We want to ensure that people from all walks of life have the opportunity to sit behind Secretary Resolute,” Harris said, adding, “Think about the possibilities: If a young activist from the South Side of Chicago can be president, you can be president.”
Other sections of the museum cover the Affordable Care Act, immigration policies and more intimate moments, like when Obama unexpectedly sang during a 2015 eulogy honoring the victims of the South Carolina church shooting. A large television screen shows a video of Obama singing “Amazing Grace.”
Scattered throughout the space are areas dedicated to personal reflection, something that the museum organizers consider fundamental.
“We are passing on this testimony and inviting people to take change home, however they define change, small or large,” said Louise Bernard, director of the museum.
Barak Obama was the 44th President of the United States of America, between 2009 and 20217.
