Juneteenth visitors – On the Obama Presidential Center’s public opening Friday in Jackson Park, thousands of visitors filled the campus for Juneteenth—finding personal meaning in replicas, artifacts, and messages tied to Barack and Michelle Obama’s legacy.
In Jackson Park on Friday, the lines moved slowly enough for people to feel what the day meant. Nearly every corner of the Obama Presidential Center campus drew visitors who had come for more than a tour—many came for Juneteenth, and for a president they say they still carry with them.
Some leaned into the details. Sitting behind the desk inside a replica of President Barack Obama’s Oval Office, visitors talked about what it made them imagine: not just history, but the life that comes with it.
Delores McClendon, 45, of Englewood, spent hours inside the museum. One installation stood out to her right away: a video replaying the day Obama won the 2008 presidential election. McClendon said she remembered that night “sitting there watching with my family. ” adding that they were “shedding tears” as the victory got closer and “rejoicing.”.
She also described a connection that goes beyond politics. Before he became president, Obama was her neighbor, she said. “He’s from Chicago and that’s the most exciting thing to me. ” McClendon told visitors. “To know that somebody that came up in the same community. and made it this far. made such a great impact in our nation. is incredible.”.
Denise Smith. 72. from South Chicago. said the replica offered her a glimpse into what Obama’s daily life may have looked like. “To be able to sit behind the desk and just kind of soak in the photos that he had of his family. it was an amazing opportunity. ” Smith said. She called Obama an “inspiration for all people. ” describing him as “a breath of fresh air” and stressing that “Someone with integrity. especially in times like this. is so important.”.
For Janice Murdock, 62, of Auburn Gresham, the experience was tied tightly to the timing of the opening. As she walked through the Oval Office replica. she said she couldn’t help reflecting on how far Black Americans have come. calling it “overwhelming.” “To be able to sit in the seat that [Barack Obama] sat in is awe-inspiring. ” Murdock said.
She said the museum’s opening day coinciding with Juneteenth added another layer of meaning. Juneteenth commemorates emancipation, she said, and gave Black Americans a chance to celebrate freedom. Murdock described the museum as a reflection of what Obama accomplished. “He continues to give us so much hope,” she said. “He set a standard that we so long looked for.”.
Other visitors focused on the work and the people behind the building itself. Verena Jimenez. 33. of West Lawn. said she enjoyed taking in the artwork. but what stuck with her was knowing her husband played a role in building a piece of history. Jimenez’s husband, Victor Guevara, was among the construction workers who helped build the Obama Presidential Center. His name appears engraved on the Worker Appreciation Wall. a permanent installation honoring the thousands of people who worked on the project.
Guevara. who smiled shyly as his wife spoke about the accomplishment. said. “It’s been a great experience.” Jimenez said the couple brought their children to the museum on opening day. “He is one of the greatest presidents this country has ever seen,” she said of Obama. “He’s impacted our family and thousands of other people.”.
Terrence Tarver, 46, of Washington, D.C., said he felt pulled back to where it all began for him. Tarver grew up in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. and now. living in the capital. he returned home for what he called the “historic” opening. He said it was hard to pick a favorite exhibit because. to him. the museum represents “the best and brightest that America has to offer.”.
The Chicago native described Obama as “a force of light” who continues to give people hope. “The museum will give young people something to look forward to,” Tarver said. “It will give older people something to continue to dream for. It will be a symbolism of what success can be and what it looks like.”.
In a different corner of the museum experience. Monique Armstead. 61. of New Jersey. said she was awed by Michelle Obama’s gowns on display. Armstead said Michelle Obama is an inspiration for many Black women and described her as proof of what can be achieved. “She is a beautiful person,” Armstead said. “She helped create all of this so she deserves to also be celebrated.”.
Armstead called the Obamas “icons” and said she was grateful to visit. “They are world leaders,” she said. “They are caring, giving people.”
Even visitors who gravitated toward the Oval Office details found themselves talking about recognition and acceptance. Cookie Yarbrough. 59. of Las Vegas. said the replica drew her in. but one item stood out: a copy of a welcome letter George W. Bush wrote for Obama when he became the 44th president of the United States. The letter was displayed inside an open drawer in the president’s desk.
“To be able to read those words was amazing,” Yarbrough said. “He was the first Black president, and it was important to see he was embraced by others.” She said Obama’s leadership was “legendary,” and that what he accomplished during his presidency changed the country “for the better.”
On Friday, the museum’s opening didn’t just mark a new cultural destination. For visitors coming from across the country—some with family memories tied to 2008. some with jobs connected to the building itself. and some with Juneteenth celebrations already in motion—the Oval Office replica. the video replay. the artwork. and the displayed letters all carried the same force: a chance to sit with what people believe the moment meant. and what they hope it keeps meaning.
Obama Presidential Center Juneteenth Jackson Park Barack Obama Michelle Obama museum opening Oval Office replica visitor interviews