Visitors got a first look at Obama's new presidential library in Chicago

Chicago – For the first time, a select group of visitors, including journalists and schoolchildren, has had a glimpse into the new presidential library of Barack Obama in Chicago. The complex, which pays tribute to the legacy of the nation's first African American president, will officially open to the public on June 19, Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the country. The centerpiece of the project is a brutalist-style tower nicknamed the Obamalisk, which houses a museum displaying items related to Obama's presidency in the White House.

While there will be an admission fee for the museum, the publicly accessible areas of the sprawling complex, which covers eight acres, will offer additional attractions: a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, a basketball court, and a picnic area with grills. There is also a free panoramic view of the city and Lake Michigan from the top floor of the Obamalisk.

The work on the Barack Obama Presidential Center in the South Side neighborhood took more than ten years and cost $850 million (17.7 billion CZK). It is by far the most expensive presidential library in American history, according to CNN.

The presidential archive itself, which consists of 30 million pages, is fully digitized for the first time, and no official documents are physically displayed. Instead, visitors can try interactive exhibits about the presidential campaign, key moments of Obama's presidency, and life in the White House, reported AP.

One of the attractions of the museum is a faithful replica of the Oval Office from Obama's term. Visitors can pose for a photo at the desk, which contains a copy of a letter from Obama's predecessor George W. Bush and Obama's favorite BlackBerry phone. There is also a display of former First Lady Michelle Obama's dresses, including the red and black one designed by Narciso Rodriguez that she wore on Election Day in 2008.

Not all Chicago residents welcomed the presidential center in South Side. Some are concerned about the impacts of gentrification, which involves the displacement of long-time residents due to an influx of investment and tourism. Democrat Obama launched his political career in South Side, taught law at the University of Chicago, and his family lived there. Michelle Obama also grew up in the neighborhood.

The location of the presidential library complex within Jackson Park, a city historic park, was also a contentious issue. An environmental group sued Chicago for allowing the construction of a private project on public land. However, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit. Although the project expanded the park by 1.5 acres, some parts were sacrificed for the construction, including hundreds of trees and the historic Women's Garden from 1937.

The architectural style of the Obamalisk, a nearly 70-meter tower designed by architects Billie Tsien and Tod Williams, has also drawn criticism. Some residents have likened the building to a barn, a spacecraft from Star Wars, or a mausoleum, according to AP.

The shape of the tower is meant to resemble four hands coming together in a gesture of solidarity. On one side of the building, there are 1.5-meter tall concrete letters forming an excerpt from Obama's 2015 speech on the 50th anniversary of the march of Black activists from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. It begins with the words "You are America."

There are now 13 official presidential libraries in the U.S. The most recent, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, opened in Dallas, Texas, in April 2013, the predecessor to Obama. The center includes a library, museum, and political institute.

Current President Donald Trump presented a video of his proposed presidential library in March. Accompanied by dramatic music, it reveals a tower looming over the skyline of Miami, Florida. The building features the distinctive "Trump" inscription known from his skyscrapers in New York and Chicago.