On Friday, June 19, the Obama Presidential Center officially opened to the public, drawing thousands of visitors to Chicago’s South Side for a long-awaited milestone years in the making.

By mid-afternoon, nearly 1,700 visitors had toured the ticketed museum while thousands more explored the rest of the 19-acre campus. With a capacity of nearly 15,000 people, the center remained busy throughout the day as visitors gathered to celebrate the opening of a presidential center unlike any before it.

Even those without museum tickets found plenty to experience. The museum may be sold out for months, but the broader campus was designed to be a destination in its own right. Visitors filled the grounds, explored public spaces, attended activities, and, yes, spent plenty of time waiting in line. There were lines for food. Lines for activities. Lines for photos. Lines for the gift shop. At one point, it seemed like there might even be a line to stand in another line. I never knew muscles could get sore from standing in line, but Opening Day provided a useful reminder. Even without a museum ticket, it was worth being there to experience the excitement firsthand. For a former president who left office nearly a decade ago, the enthusiasm was striking. The crowds spoke for themselves.

One of the most popular destinations was John Lewis Plaza, where statues of both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stand outside the museum entrance. The Obama Presidential Center is the first presidential center to feature statues honoring both the president and first lady. From early morning until closing, visitors lined up for photos while musical performances kept the plaza energized throughout the weekend.

Inside the Forum, opening weekend offered a range of hands-on activities designed to encourage participation and creativity. Visitors could create commemorative buttons and tote bags, take part in a cross-stitch workshop, or write letters to President and Mrs. Obama reflecting on their visit. By mid-afternoon, organizers had run out of pre-printed tote bags. Visitors could still get one made, but it required another line and then a few more minutes for the ink to dry. Opening Day at the Obama Presidential Center offered many lessons, including one about patience.

The opening weekend also marked the debut of a new Chicago Public Library branch on campus. Earlier in the day, President and Mrs. Obama welcomed the museum's first visitors before reading to children in the library, underscoring the center's broader emphasis on education and community engagement.

Elsewhere on campus, spotlight tours introduced visitors to the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden and a pair of public art installations. At Home Court, a 60,000-square-foot athletic and events facility, sports clinics featured representatives from Chicago's professional teams, including the Blackhawks, Bulls, Stars FC, and White Sox. The venue will host future programming focused on health, leadership development, career exploration, and relationship building.

If the first few months are any indication, the Obama Presidential Center will bring plenty of tourism to Chicago's South Side. The project endured lawsuits, delays, and years of debate before construction could move forward. Now it's finally here—and judging by the crowds on Opening Day, people were more than ready for it.