Inside the Obama Presidential Center before opening day

What to expect: The word "hope," a theme Obama carried from campaign to office and beyond, greets visitors immediately at the museum entrance.

• It's notable, too, that the names and works of Chicagoans adorn the front hall — "The Land, Shared Sky" by local artist Nick Cave hangs next to the Harold Washington Overlook, named for Chicago's first Black mayor and a political hero of Obama's.
• The story of America kicks off the exhibitions with a copy of the Declaration of Independence, followed by images and artifacts marking major moments of social change in the U.S.
• This includes photos of disability rights activists on Capitol Hill, Dolores Huerta leading a farmers' rights rally, and pendants and buttons marking other civil rights movements of the last century.

Context: Obama's upbringing is interspersed with these movements, showing that his life was always rooted in seeking social justice and public service.

• A clay plate with Obama's childhood handprint below a photo of him on his mother's lap shows his Hawaiian upbringing, and similar displays follow his life through law school, community organizing on Chicago's South Side, and eventually his time in the White House.
• Hundreds of campaign buttons and video from Obama's 2008 presidential campaign line the interior of an oval display emblazoned with his famous motto: "Yes we can."

Sounds like: Anthems by Marvin Gaye, The Clash, Bruce Springsteen and, of course, Aretha Franklin carry throughout the exhibits.

Zoom in: Michelle Obama's life story gets equal attention throughout the exhibits. Her voiceover shares the story of growing up in South Shore as the daughter of civically engaged, hardworking parents through her time as an honor roll student at Whitney Young and as an undergrad at Princeton.

• The Obamas' wedding photo and a video recalling their love story show the origin and growth of their family, but images and videos of daughters Sasha and Malia are less present, likely to protect their privacy.

The intrigue: Chicagoans will appreciate moments that national and international visitors may miss — Michelle at a Bud Billiken Parade, Barack wearing a cowboy hat at a Little Village shop and the one-time state senator standing next to former Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones.

Of course, the Obamas' time in Washington, from 2008 to 2016, is well documented with kitschy touches like a replica of the Oval Office (a staffer will snap your pic sitting behind the desk).

• Also on display are some of Michelle's most famous gowns and outfits, identifying the diverse designers she wore while first lady.

Fun fact: When asked what one item he wished was in the OPC that isn't there, corporate affairs head Michael Strautmanis joked, "the tan suit."

• The president gave the suit away, longtime Obama adviser and friend Valerie Jarrett told reporters on Wednesday.

Zoom out: The 19-acre campus includes Home Court, with a basketball court and gym open to the public. Jarrett said her former boss will not be playing basketball there "if Mrs. Obama has anything to say about it."

• The Hadiya Pendleton Atrium is named after the 15-year-old King College Prep student who was shot and killed in 2013, just a week after performing at the president's second inauguration. It anchors The Forum building and includes an auditorium, a restaurant and café.
• A public plaza for events, a Chicago Public Library branch and the "best sledding hill in the neighborhood" allow the general public to experience the center. (Jarrett said Michelle wanted to build a sledding hill since she didn't have one growing up in flat Chicago.)

Between the lines: Much of Obama's time in office can be experienced outside the walls as the first fully digital presidential archive.

• No footage is stored in the building.

By the numbers: OPC expects 750,000 to 1 million annual visitors to the entire campus.

• It cost $850 million to build.
• "Not a single government dollar has gone into creating this center," operations head John Roberson said. "That's important because it's this level of investment that has been lacking on the South and West sides for way too long."
• The center created 250 permanent jobs, Roberson added.

If you go: Beginning June 19, the outdoor area is free and open to the public, while the museum requires a ticket with timed entry.

• OPC will be free to Illinois residents each Tuesday.
• The museum will be open 10am–5pm Tuesday–Sunday and 1–8pm Monday.