Today in Illinois, the long-awaited Obama Presidential Center (OPC) celebrated its grand opening, welcoming a sprawling crowd of politicians, celebrities, and other well-wishers to its 19-acre campus in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side.
Notable attendees at the daytime dedication ceremony included former President Joe Biden and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden; former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff; former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker; California Gov. Gavin Newsom; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries; Sen. Dick Durbin; former White House Chief of Staff and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel; former US Attorney General Eric Holder; former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords; and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Among the other guests were former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Valerie Jarrett, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The center, which spans a four-story museum tower, a recreation area, a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, and sundry landscaped lawns, paths, and gardens, was designed by the New York–based firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects in partnership with Interactive Design Architects (IDEA).
During Thursday’s event, former President Obama expressed his hope that the OPC would “serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious, our democracy truly is.” He was joined at the ceremony by former first lady Michelle Obama—dressed in a tweed skirt suit by Thom Browne—and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Helping to round out the bold-faced guest list were names from the worlds of media, filmmaking, and music—several of whom also took the stage to perform.
Below, a survey of the very biggest stars at the Obama Presidential Center’s dedication ceremony.
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