Photo: Getty Images Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story 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.
Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pose ahead of the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center.
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.
A view of the Obama Presidential Center from the Great Lawn.
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.
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Oprah Winfrey
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Tom Hanks
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Steven Spielberg
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Gabrielle Union
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images LL Cool J
David Hockney: 40 Images That Prove He Was Always a Tastemaker Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli Talk Summer House and Sleep Avoidance in the Latest Off the Cuff A First Look Inside the American LGBTQ+ Museum What’s Going on With the LA Mayoral Race? A Closer Look More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Quinta Brunson
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Stephen Colbert
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Conan O’Brien
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images David Letterman
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images George Lucas and Mellody Hobson
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Mark Hamill and Marilou York
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Jon Batiste
More to explore Gallery Photo: Getty Images Tyler…