When a president earns a namesake library, his (and someday, her) legacy is set in stone—both literally and figuratively. On June 19, 2026, that honor comes to the most consequential president of the 21st century—President Barack Obama—when the Obama Presidential Center opens to the public. Covering over 19 acres on the South Side of Chicago, the towering edifice features art by Julie Mehretu and Nick Cave, along with a sculpted quote from a 2015 speech that proclaimed, “You are America.” Other spaces include an Oval Office replica and a green space inspired by Michelle Obama’s garden at the White House, as well as playgrounds and a basketball court that emphasize the first couple’s focus on having fun. During its planning stages, President Obama said he wanted his center to be “exactly the opposite of all presidential libraries.” And it is. —Maggie Turner