The Obama Presidential Center opens Thursday on Chicago's South Side, giving former President Barack Obama a permanent institution.
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A project nearly a decade in the making officially opens its doors
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The Obama Presidential Center will be dedicated on Chicago's South Side, the city where Barack and Michelle Obama built their careers, raised their family
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and launched a political movement that would eventually reach the White House
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The $850 million campus includes a museum, library, community spaces, and exhibits focused on both the presidency and the people behind it
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One of the biggest attractions is a full-scale replica of the Oval Office
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complete with a copy of the Resolute Desk, where visitors can walk in, take a seat, and get a feel for the room where presidential decisions are made
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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
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but President Obama chose the Oval Office. If you remember the White House was designed to be the people house And President Obama opened the White House to more people in our history than ever before
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There's also a look at life inside the Obama White House, including several of Michelle Obama's most recognizable outfits from her years as First Lady
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The couple spoke to ABC News this week about the opening and their legacy
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The thing that we were good at and allowed me to sleep at night and get up and go back at it was I always felt that when we made decisions, we were making decisions with the American people in mind
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Obama says he wanted the center to be more than a presidential library, calling it a place that encourages people to get involved in their communities and public life
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A dedication ceremony is set for this afternoon featuring the Obamas, dignitaries, and a lineup of performers, including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson
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