A new cultural hub rises in Chicago with fun and learning

Chicago will unveil a shiny new campus this week on the south side, called the Obama Presidential Center. The site sits on 19 acres along a well-known park strip, putting culture and recreation side by side. It isn’t a library in the old sense, because presidential papers stay in Washington, D. C. Instead, this campus mixes a museum, a library branch, sports courts, gardens, and walking paths into one lively place. Starting Friday anyone can walk through the gates. The organizers expect crowds—close to one million visitors every year. Tickets cost thirty dollars and, surprise, they sold out fast through October. The opening ceremony itself is invite-only, and the giant watch party in the park has no more wristbands. You can watch the speeches and performances online if you’re not inside the fenced area.The buildings stretch up high and hold exhibits about life in and around the White House during Barack Obama’s years. There’s a sports space big enough for full NBA games, a children’s playground, and a garden packed with fruits and vegetables. A special Women’s Garden honors local leaders, while the Wetland Walk shows off native plants. Visitors can even grab a quiet seat in the auditorium or try recording a video in the media suite. Asked why certain leaders were left off the guest list, one spokeswoman kept it simple: this weekend honors the people who helped the former president reach the Oval Office. Every living president except Donald Trump is welcome to pop by the new center anytime, she added. He can still tour the museum—just not at the ribbon-cutting. A different kind of star power will appear on stage. Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, and more musicians have agreed to take the microphone. Comedian and rapper Common will also take the mic. The lineup mixes rock legends with Grammy winners, so the songs will swing from classic anthems to modern hits. While political lines stayed outside the gates, the music feels designed to bring Chicago together.