The Barack Obama Presidential Center sits on a sprawling campus on the South Side of Chicago. It officially opens on June 19, but IPM News Director Reginald Hardwick toured it in mid-May. He talked with Morning Edition host Kimberly Schofield about what he saw.
Reginald Hardwick 00:24
Well, Kimberly, I wasn’t formally invited. I went to take pictures of the center, so that we would have some nice exterior shots for preview stories closer to the grand opening in June. You may have heard about the museum, but it’s so much more. I parked on the south end of the 19-acre campus and walked north to the eight-story granite building that houses the museum.
Kimberly Schofield 00:45
Wow, what was the first thing that you saw?
Reginald Hardwick 00:48
Well, on the southernmost point is Home Court. It sits across from Hyde Park Academy High School, and that’s important because it is 60,000 square foot athletic facility. It has an NBA regulation basketball court. You may have heard, you know, former President Barack Obama loves basketball, as do you (Kimberly) probably…
Kimberly Schofield 01:09
I do. And I’ve watched the videos, of course, of Obama playing basketball,
Reginald Hardwick 01:14
And there are also activity rooms where local teens can work on career building and connecting the sky box overlooking the court is named after the great boxer Muhammad Ali.
Kimberly Schofield 01:24
Wow, what did you see next?
Reginald Hardwick 01:26
I’m still a few blocks from the museum, still walking north. Home Court overlooks the largest playground I have ever seen, and if you remember, First Lady Michelle Obama championed the Let’s Move campaign to fight childhood obesity, and this has got to be a kid’s dream. Every kind of slide; swings that are Americans with Disabilities compliant, and what you’ll really notice is just this aqua-colored, spongy floor. It’s all outdoors, but if anyone falls, they bounce right back up.
Kimberly Schofield 01:57
Is that the only outdoor space?
Reginald Hardwick 02:01
Keep in mind I’m only halfway to the museum, and no, it’s not the only outdoor space. I crossed a huge hill where South Side Chicago families can spread out on a blanket and take in a concert or watch a movie in the park, and then I came to a massive garden.
Kimberly Schofield 02:17
Oh, another idea inspired by the former First Lady,
Reginald Hardwick 02:21
Yes, two First Ladies, in fact. The Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden has rows and rows of wooden boxes that are already sprouting plants, like mustard and collard greens. I also saw some boxes that had snap peas and other vegetables being grown. It’s here where South Side residents can come to learn about growing, harvesting, and inside the nearby Nancy Pelosi Garden Center, learn about preparing and cooking fresh produce.
Kimberly Schofield 02:49
It sounds amazing and delicious. And Reginald, I understand the garden is on top of a building,
Reginald Hardwick 02:55
That is correct. This is one of those living roofs, so you know people can work and and visit the gardens on top, but it’s also on top of the Obama Center branch of the Chicago Public Library, so families from the South Side of Chicago are encouraged to grab a book or study inside while people are gardening upstairs, and then just north of that is the Forum Building, and that is another community space. It’s a two-story building that connects the library with the museum. There’s an auditorium for lectures and concerts. There are media rooms where local kids can learn about podcasting or producing music, and there’s also a cafe in there.
Kimberly Schofield 03:36
I am loving this tour that you are giving me. Have you arrived at the museum yet?
Reginald Hardwick 03:41
Yes, it took me about an hour, but I finally arrived. And first, let me say, you’ve probably heard about Obama’s memoir, The Audacity of Hope. I’m joking, it’s the audacity of a building. It’s so striking to stand next to it. It’s a big, gray, granite, thick building that really stands out on the south side. There’s no other real tall buildings that surround it, so it really stands out, and also it’s a green space, so that gray really sticks out. And on top of the eight stories are five foot tall words taken from President Obama’s speech in 2015 at the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Selma, Alabama. And here’s what he said then, and those are the words that are on the building.
President Barack Obama 04:21
You are America, unconstrained by habit and convention, unencumbered by what is, because you’re ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken. There’s new ground to cover. There are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person, because the single most powerful word in our democracy is the word we. We, the people. People, we shall overcome. Yes, we can. That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours,
Kimberly Schofield 05:22
That’s so amazing to hear. Reginald, you were welcomed in. Then,
Reginald Hardwick 05:26
Yes, I was surprised, as I think other people, you know, who probably just were curious, and they said, ‘Come on in. And I walked through a metal detector and paid for my ticket, which is $26 for Illinois residents, $30 for anyone else over the age of 12, and we began taking escalators that go up, up, and up, and there are staffers appointed the way, answered our questions. I will warn people, wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking.
Kimberly Schofield 05:55
Sprawling… does each floor have a theme?
Reginald Hardwick 05:59
Yes, indeed, Kimberly. Each floor is named after people like NBA great Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who was a Jewish theologian and philosopher who took part in the civil rights movement. We don’t have enough time to go through everything in this short story here, but each floor has a theme. You learn about the struggles for freedom through various movements, civil rights, women’s suffrage, Native American disability, and LGBTQ rights movements, and you also start by learning about Barack and Michelle’s upbringing, his Kansas mother and Kenyan father, and the former First Lady’s Chicago South Side roots. You also see his rise from a community organizer to state senator to US senator, and of course the presidential campaign.
Kimberly Schofield 06:46
Yeah, I remember the slogan, ‘Yes we can.’
Reginald Hardwick 06:49
Yes, it is everywhere, and from hundreds of campaign buttons to a wall of homemade posters, purses, signs, and shirts, as well as interactive exhibits on his primary defeat of Hillary Clinton and general election defeat of John McCain. There is so much, and we get really nostalgic if you remember that time to take in. And, of course, there’s a picture of Obama kicking off his presidential campaign at the old state capitol in Springfield under the headline ‘Against All Odds.’
Kimberly Schofield 07:21
Wow, I know that you didn’t expect to be asked or welcomed in. Were there a lot of people also there?
Reginald Hardwick 07:29
There were dozens of people, and I wouldn’t say we were elbow to elbow. I think that’s gonna be the opening ceremony at week for sure. I don’t think this has been promoted that the museum is open, because I bet huge crowds would just descend. On one floor there was a replica of the Oval office during the Obama years, and there was a line of people who, you know, come into the space, which is a little bit smaller, and take pictures behind the president’s desk. I was really struck by the joy on the faces of many elderly Black people. Growing up as a Black person. I often heard my elders say there would never be a Black president, and this is the same generation posing for pictures who could probably tell you where they were during the civil rights movement and where they were when Obama became president. It was really inspiring.
Kimberly Schofield 08:22
What else did you see?
Reginald Hardwick 08:25
Gosh, so much throughout the museum, there’s lots of artwork, and there are also a lot of places where people are asked, what are they going to do? You know, you’ve had the Obamas through the years, and people are looking for, you know, the next political leader inspire them, but I think there’s a lot put on people, particularly young people, to ask them what are they going to do? And you know, what are ways they can get involved? There’s a Democracy 101 wing that explains our government, how you can take part in civic engagement, running for office, or just volunteering to make a difference. There’s an interactive breakdown of who votes by America by age. Spoiler alert: 70% of people over the age of 65 vote, whereas people under age 24 are around 40% And there’s a quote on the wall in that area from Barack Obama: ‘We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.’
Kimberly Schofield 09:20
Reginald, do you say that escalators go up? How far can you go?
Reginald Hardwick 09:26
Yes, floors two through six take you through various exhibits. There’s a lot of media to take in. And remember, Obama’s presidency took part in the digital age. You don’t have access to the seventh floor, those are private offices. But here’s another surprise: we went all the way to the eighth floor, and that top is called the Window Room, and that’s because you have a 360-degree view of the South Side of Chicago. I bet it would be phenomenal to watch the Fourth of July fireworks from up there. And in the middle is an atrium, and when you look up. There’s artwork made out of Obama’s speeches. You literally see his words if you look at it really closely.
Kimerly Schofield 10:06
Is there a gift shop or somewhere to eat in case you need a break from absorbing all of the incredible media?
Reginald Hardwick 10:13
Yes, they’ve thought about everything, and so you’re also probably wondering, how do we get back down? So, the museum guides will put you on large elevators that take you back down to the lower level, where there is a cafe. It wasn’t open while I was there, but I’m sure it will be great food, and the gift shop, which was packed, and I walked by there on my way back to the car.
Kimberly Schofield 10:39
What do we know about the grand opening?
Reginald Hardwick 10:42
The official opening ceremony is June 18. The Obama Presidential Center website says there will be an inspiring performance by legendary, world-renowned talent. It is invitation only, so most of us will have to watch on a live stream. I remember when the George W. Bush Presidential Center opened in Dallas, you know, some of the other former presidents came to see that, so I’m thinking it’ll be also a high-security space. Then the museum officially opens on Juneteenth, June 19, and I’ve read people have already bought tickets from all over the world all the way through November already.
Kimberly Schofield 11:21
Wow.
Reginald Hardwick 11:22
There is, by the way, a large underground parking lot on site. So, if you’re planning to go from Champaign-Urbana, I’d advise you to make sure you have tickets. I winged it, but again, this was before the official opening, and I don’t recommend that. You don’t want to come all the way two hours to the South Side of Chicago and not be able to get in because of the crowds, and again, there were some crowds when I went in, but I’m sure there will be many more people once you know the official opening has started.
Kimberly Schofield 11:58
Wow, I’m imagining if I was there and I saw people starting to go in. I would think, probably to myself, is this real? Am I allowed to go in? So, I am glad that you took the opportunity, Reginald. Do you have any other thoughts?
Reginald Hardwick 12:10
Yeah, I was following some folks pushing a stroller, and then, you know, and so, yeah. And then, you know, the curiosity of being a journalist, you know. Okay, well, if I can, if they can get in, I’m gonna get in and see it, you know. This is my third presidential museum visit. Of course, I’ve seen the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, and I lived in Dallas-Fort Worth, and was there when George W. Bush’s museum opened at the Southern Methodist University. It’s interesting to me, as a person who heavily covered both Bush and Obama, how the museums are both very unique and different. Bush’s museum is at SMU, as I said. It also has a Resolute desk and has the Oval Office, and many elements of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also striking that both the Obama and Bush museums feature the First Ladies’ dresses and outfits, [which are] very, very popular. I feel like they’re both like time capsules of eight years of our country’s history, and again, they’re very unique in their own ways.
Kimberly Schofield 13:16
That’s IPM News Director Reginald Hardwick, who went to the Obama Presidential Center to get some outside pictures and saw much more. You can see his videos and pictures at Illinois soul.org.