The Obama Presidential Center officially opens on June 19 — the fifth anniversary of the national observation of Juneteenth. But June 18 marked the grand opening of the vibrant 19.3-acre campus located in Chicago’s historic Jackson Park.
A star-studded guest roster touched down to be part of the opening, hosted by the couple themselves. Former U.S. presidents in attendance include Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as foreign leaders, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks were among the afternoon’s celebrity guests at the grand opening, which included speeches and performances by Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Common, The Roots, and more.
Conceived as a community-focused civic landmark, the project is driven by Barack Obama, the country’s 44th president, and former First Lady Michelle Obama, as their primary legacy project. Unlike other presidential libraries, the OPC aims to empower everyday citizens to make a difference in their own neighborhoods.
“We didn’t design this to be some dusty-old maseloum, I’m too young for that,” Obama quipped during the center’s opening ceremony. “We wanted it to be a vibrant living community where we can share together… because in those moments we’re reminded of our common humanity and strengthen the bonds of trust… that make our democracy stronger.”
See who was in attendance below.
