Obama Presidential Center

Today we made our first in-person visit to the highly acclaimed Obama President Center. The visit was breath-taking, well planned, lots of energy and very accessible. These are just a few photos from my lens.

Street view featuring a blue banner for the Obama Presidential Center with the text 'Bring Change Home', surrounded by trees and urban architecture.
View of the Main Court inside a gymnasium, showcasing large glass windows with natural light, wooden flooring, and a basketball hoop. A bulletin board with papers is visible in the foreground.
View of the main court through large glass doors, featuring a basketball hoop and a spacious, empty interior with natural lighting.
A scale model showcasing a landscaped area with pathways, trees, and a building on a table, viewed from an indoor setting with large windows.
View of a city landscape framed by a large circular architectural feature, showcasing buildings and greenery under a cloudy sky.
View of a modern building with patterned facade featuring text quotes, surrounded by greenery and a lamp post.
Exhibit about the White House titled 'Opening the White House,' featuring text panels, images, and a display table.
Exhibition wall displaying the title 'The People's House' and a quote about the significance of the White House, along with signatures from Barack and Michelle Obama.
A spacious indoor area with large windows, where a diverse group of people are exploring and taking photos. The ceiling features a decorative display, and the atmosphere is bright and inviting.
Indoor observation area with large windows showcasing a city view, featuring several people looking outside.
Interior view of the Oval Office with a large wooden desk, a sofa, and various decorations including paintings and flags. A person is standing near the desk.
Exhibit showcasing various items including a rainbow flag painting, a decorative plate, and photographs of diverse celebrations, accompanied by a quote from President Barack Obama about bringing light to darkness.
A pathway in a public park lined with trees and greenery, leading towards a modern building in the background. Streetlights are visible along the path.
Modern building exterior labeled 'HOME COURT', surrounded by landscaped gardens and greenery.
A close-up view of a modern sign displaying the word 'HOME' with a stylized logo and greenery in the background.
A cityscape view featuring high-rise buildings, green parks, and distant skyline with a partially cloudy sky.
A panoramic view of a city skyline featuring various buildings and lush greenery under a cloudy sky.
View of a cityscape through a circular architectural frame, showcasing buildings and greenery under a cloudy sky.
A close-up of a framed text titled 'What Are These Words?' featuring a speech by President Barack Obama, discussing themes of America, democracy, and collective responsibility.
Looking up at a ceiling installation with cascading blue threads suspended from the top, creating a textured and layered effect.
Ceiling installation featuring numerous hanging strands of purple flowers or fibers.
Interior view of a room with purple hanging threads creating a cascading effect from the ceiling to the walls, illuminated by natural light from a skylight.
Aerial view of a modern building surrounded by green park space and landscaped areas, featuring pathways and recreational facilities.
Aerial view of a landscaped public space featuring pathways, green areas, and seating arrangements, framed by a structural element in the foreground.
View of a lush green park from behind large steel letters, with modern buildings and a road visible in the distance.
A spacious indoor observation area with large windows, where several people are standing and looking out at the view. The floor is tiled, and the ceiling features artistic decor.
A wall inscription featuring a quote from President Barack Obama about unity and democracy, with a title reading 'YOU ARE AMERICA', displayed in a light-colored panel against a textured gray wall.
A metal plaque displaying text about the Freedom Riders, detailing their arrest by law enforcement on June 10, 1961, in Florida.
Aerial view of a landscaped park featuring winding paths, various plants, and a group of people gathered around a statue.
Aerial view of a city landscape featuring green parks, winding roads, and modern buildings against a backdrop of Lake Michigan and a clear sky.
A panoramic view of a lake surrounded by lush greenery and parks, with a blue sky and clouds above. In the distance, a building can be seen near the water's edge.
Interior view of an elevator in a museum, displaying a floor directory with levels and corresponding rooms, including a digital floor indicator showing '14M'.
Elevator access area in a museum, featuring elevator doors and a directory listing the levels and attractions available.
A large projection of the Washington Monument and surrounding area, viewed from a modern interior space, with hues of purple and several people visible along the water's edge.
Interior view of a museum exhibit featuring a display area with photographs on the wall, a doorway leading to a cozy room, and two visitors engaged in conversation.
Display case featuring various sports memorabilia including a baseball glove, basketball, helmet, baseball bat, and baseball. Accompanied by informational plaques underneath.
A display featuring basketball images, jerseys, a trophy, and memorabilia, highlighting sports themes.
Exhibit featuring sports memorabilia including a jersey, various sports items, and images of athletes and a notable figure. A quote by President Barack Obama is displayed.
A signed white high-top sneaker displayed in a museum, featuring inscriptions addressed to President Obama.
Display of various elegant dresses in a museum exhibit, featuring a mix of styles and colors, with accompanying artifacts showcased in front.
Interior view of the Oval Office featuring an ornate wooden desk, American flags, artwork on the walls, and a visitor standing near the desk.
A bronze bust of a man displayed on a table in a room with striped wallpaper.
Interior view of a room with a beige and white color scheme, featuring a comfortable sofa with decorative pillows, two armchairs, and a coffee table with a fruit bowl. The room also includes paintings on the walls, a fireplace with plants, and a tall clock, bordered by red ropes.
Interior view of a historical room with a sofa, chairs, and a coffee table, featuring various artworks and a clock, with two people standing and one person using a phone.
A wooden table with framed photographs and a decorative lamp, positioned beneath large windows. An American flag is draped to the left, and a presidential flag is displayed to the right, all set against orange drapes.
Interior of an office with a wooden desk, American flags, and large windows covered with red curtains. There is a sign stating 'Please wait here' in front of the desk.
A man standing in an office resembling the Oval Office, wearing a t-shirt with a portrait of Barack Obama, with decor including flags, a desk, and a framed picture.
An artistic installation featuring various circular mirrors and disks in shades of pink and red, suspended from the ceiling against a gray wall.
Colorful wall art spelling 'HOPE' with each letter designed in a unique style.
A long line of people waiting outside a modern building on a sunny day, with trees and city buildings in the background.
Two people posing next to a bronze statue of a man and a woman, outdoors with a modern building and greenery in the background.
A modern building with a unique geometric design and decorative wall patterns, surrounded by trees and a paved pathway.

Tafari’s kitchen

A modern kitchen in a restaurant showing chefs at work, with a coffee machine in the foreground and various cooking equipment in the background.
Interior of a busy restaurant with a line of people waiting to be seated, featuring wooden furniture and large windows allowing natural light.
A table setting featuring a bowl of chili with cornbread, a plate of shrimp rice, a dessert cupcake with caramel icing, a glass of white wine, a water glass, and a table number.
Logo of Tafari's Kitchen displayed on a screen, featuring a minimalist design with modern typography.
Entrance to Tafari's Kitchen with a digital menu display and a queue of customers.

Emmett Till

While our primary visit was to the Obama Presidential Center, we took time to explore two sites dedicated to the life of Emmett Till. We visited Roberts’ Church of God in Christ which was the site of his funeral. Additionally, The Chicago University of Contemporary Art recently unveiled a photo exhibit, “If Emmett was lived.”

A busy city street scene featuring various vehicles, including taxis and buses, with a backdrop of modern skyscrapers and a cloudy sky.
A busy intersection with several vehicles including a red sedan, a black SUV, and a white car, under a cloudy sky with traffic lights visible.
City street view with tall buildings, green traffic light, and pedestrians walking along the sidewalk.
Exterior of Columbia College Chicago building featuring large windows with promotional displays, located near the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) in a city setting.
Entrance to an art exhibit titled 'If Emmett Till Lived' with dates September 10 to December 19, 2026, visible on the wall. A person is seen entering the exhibit.
A black and white mural depicting a young boy playfully lifted in the air by an adult, with the text 'IF EMMETT TILL LIVED' prominently displayed.
An exhibition wall featuring framed photographs and quotes about Emmett Till. The images include natural scenery and historical moments, with text prompts encouraging viewers to reflect on Till's life.
A view of an art gallery with two framed photographs on the wall, featuring people, alongside a text-filled wall providing context or information about the exhibition.
A wall display titled 'If Emmett Till Lived' featuring a statement from Wheeler Parker Jr., the last surviving witness of the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till. The display provides insights on the historical significance of the event and reflections on its impact.
A staircase leading to an exhibition space with a dark wall displaying two framed photographs and text describing the significance of the featured individuals.
A blurred image of a wall featuring a quote by Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. about Mamie Till and a place for storytelling, accompanied by two framed black-and-white photographs.
An art gallery display featuring a series of framed photographs on a wall, along with text excerpts discussing themes of life and history in America.
Interior of an art gallery featuring framed black-and-white photographs displayed on a light blue wall. There is wooden flooring, and a doorway in the background leading to a library. To the right, a cabinet with drawers is visible.
A gallery wall featuring framed black-and-white photographs and a text panel discussing softball's significance in a town, including a quote from Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr.
Signage for Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, featuring a cross and welcoming message, located on a brick building with trees and a sidewalk in the background.
Sign for the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument at the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, featuring the National Park Service logo.
Exterior view of Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, featuring a brick facade, large windows, and a prominent sign. A person walks along the sidewalk in front of the building.
A hand reaching towards a display of black and white photographs attached to a fence, with grass in the background.
Exterior view of Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, featuring a red brick building with large windows and a prominent sign.
An abandoned structure with rusted pillars and a partially visible mural, surrounded by greenery and street signs near an empty road.
A banner announcing the Historic Facade Restoration Celebration, displayed on a fence outside Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, featuring sponsorship by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.
A black and white mural depicting a young boy in a suit and a young girl in a dress with a collar, smiling, on a weathered wall under a bridge.
An urban scene featuring a rusted railway bridge supported by concrete pillars, partially covered with greenery, adjacent to a sidewalk with a mural of two women. A fence and a closed area sign are visible in the foreground.
View of a closed area with a barred fence and a sign indicating it is property of the Federal Government. In the background, there is a brick building and trees lining the perimeter.
Plaque on the exterior wall of Roberts Temple, Church of God in Christ, detailing its founding by Bishop William Roberts in 1923 and remodeling in 1943, with names of past pastors listed.
A historical plaque detailing the significance of the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, marking it as the site of Emmett Till's open-casket funeral in 1955 and its designation as a Chicago Landmark.
Sign at gate with information about Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ and a website for visiting the park online.

Fred Thomas, III

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