Inside Obama's presidential museum: The cost, thousands of books and a beehive
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago will open on June 19, featuring a museum with campaign memorabilia and presidential artifacts, alongside community amenities like a basketball court, public library, and playground.
- The project cost approximately $850 million, funded entirely by private donations, significantly higher than the initial estimate of $350 million.
- The museum expects around 600,000 visitors annually, while the free campus amenities anticipate up to 1 million visitors each year.
- The public library branch on campus includes a “Presidential Reading Room” with about 3,500 book titles personally selected by the Obamas.
- The center showcases 440 campaign buttons, 28 commissioned artworks by 30 artists, and features an apiary with one beehive as part of its landscaping.