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CHICAGO (WGN) – The Obama Presidential Center is about to open its doors.
The nearly 20-acre campus, located in the city’s Jackson Park neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, will celebrate its opening with a star-studded ceremony on Thursday. It will then open to the public on Friday.
The center, which is expected to host somewhere between 600,000 and 1 million visitors per year, features art installations, a new library, a basketball court and a picnic area with grills. The roughly $850 million project covers the political and personal realms of former President Barack Obama and his family.
“It exceeds my wildest expectations,” said Valerie Jarrett, a longtime friend of the Obamas and CEO of the Obama Foundation. “I think we’ve done a great job. We worked with the community to help us on the design and the jobs and the feel.
“I think people will feel at home here. This is such a day of pride. Welcome to the Obama Presidential Center. I waited a long time to be able to say that.”
Barack and Michelle Obama greeted former Obama campaign and staff members Wednesday night during a special VIP event at the Salt Shed.
“It’s probably one of the most fabulous institutions that’s been opened up in the country,” Michelle said.
“I want people to go in there and be reminded of what’s possible,” Barack said.
Who’s performing at the Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening?
Thursday’s event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. CT and will feature The Roots, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Marc Anthony, Tems, U2’s Bono and The Edge, and Marsai Martin.
Citing a source familiar with the event, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that three former presidents, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, intend to be at Thursday’s ceremony to commemorate the center’s opening.
Nexstar’s WGN plans to carry the ceremony live both on-air and online. You can also stream the event on the Obama Foundation’s website.
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What streets are closed around the Obama Center?
Several street closures and parking restrictions will be in place around the area of 6001 South Stony Island Avenue. The city is advising residents and visitors to be aware of street closures, additional crowds and increased traffic, and to plan accordingly.
The following restrictions are in place through Friday at 7 p.m.:
- Midway Plaisance, from Dorchester to Stony Island EB and WB.
- Blackstone, from 59th to Midway Plaisance.
- Cornell, from Stony Island to 57th.
- Stony Island, from Midway Plaisance to 63rd.
- Stony Island, from 59th to 57th St.
- 59th EB, from Harper to Stony Island.
The following restrictions are in place through Saturday at noon:
- Midway Plaisance, from Woodlawn to Blackstone.
- Dorchester, from 59th to 60th.
How to visit?
While Thursday’s opening is invite-only, the public can see the center for themselves starting Friday. Tickets for Friday’s time entries are sold out. Tickets remain available for select days and times through Nov. 30. General admission tickets are $30.
More information on tour times and tickets is available at Obama.org.
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