[A replica of the Oval Office inside the museum of the Obama Presidential Center]
Josh Harris (interview): “Many presidential libraries and institutions have some of these iconic features. There are some that have the replica of the limousine or Air Force One, but President Obama chose the Oval Office. If you remember, the White House was designed to be the people’s house, and President Obama opened the White House to more people in our history than ever before.”
[People in silhouette standing next to a sign that reads (English) “The Oval Office”]
[People taking photo in the replica of the Oval Office inside the museum of the Obama]
Josh Harris (interview): “And so they wanted to again establish this replica to give people an opportunity to see what it’s like to sit behind the resident desk and read the letter that president Bush gave to president Obama before he took office.”
[Michelle Obama’s ballgowns on mannequins behind glasses]
[Visitors looking at the ballgowns through the glass]
Josh Harris (interview): “There’s Mrs. Obama’s iconic dresses from both terms, located there as well. So you’ll see some of those are iconic memorabilia and features throughout both terms in the campaigns as well.”
[A pair of gloves]
[A pair of shoes]
[Swatches of the fabrics of Michelle Obama’s dresses]
Josh Harris (interview): “So the exterior of the building is designed in the shape of four hands coming together. And so with that, it’s to hopefully have people reflect on the power of the collective we and people coming together to bring about change.”
[Tower of the Obama Presidential Center behind fences]
[Tower of the Obama Presidential Center]
Josh Harris (interview): “So President Obama chose Chicago because it’s a city that has given so much to them. Mrs. Obama, a native of the South Side of Chicago, President Obama, who got his organizing start right here on the South Side of Chicago. They also wanted to give back to a community that’s given so much to them, and that’s why they chose the South Side of Chicago. This is home.”
[A statue of Michelle and Barack Obama]
[A painting inside a library at the Obama Presidential Center]
[A photo of Michelle Obama and Nelson Mandela]
[A book shelf and a photograph of Barack Obama]
Josh Harris (interview): “So, but 90% of this campus is free and open to the public. We only have four floors of ticketed space, which is our exhibit space, but people can go to the branch of the Chicago Public Library. They can go to our fruit and vegetable garden in the teaching kitchen. They can go to the playground. They can sit inside our forum space and sit down at the Hadiya Pendleton Winter Garden. They can go to Tafari’s kitchen and have a bite to eat. And they can also go to The Sky Room, all free of charge.”
[Tower of the Obama Presidential Center]
[People standing in the open court at the Obama Presidential Center as a worker is polishing the floor]
[Tower of the Obama Presidential Center]
Josh Harris (interview): “I want people to be curious. I also want people to know that this is a safe space for them to come and yes, reflect on the historic moment of his presidency and the campaigns, but also to come together as a community to think about what change you can bring to your own neighborhood and your own community.”
[People walking in the open court at the Obama Presidential Center]
[Four women taking a photo in front of a statue of Michelle and Barack Obama]
[Campus of the Obama Presidential Center]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.