CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Obama Presidential Center has officially opened to the public.
Thousands attended the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening ceremony Thursday.
Here's what to know about the events.
Watch the full opening ceremony below:
The Obama Presidential Center officially opened to the public Friday.
"I am so fantastic. I have never seen anything like this in my whole entire life," Adrienne Afflalo said.
Afflalo was one of the lucky few to snag a ticket for Friday.
"It's just a wonderful thing the Lord has done for this area, and I appreciate Obama and his family wanting here in this area," Marjorie Blakely said.
Blakely and her son, Antonio Terry, stopped by to take a photo in front of the center on their way back to their new home in Nashville.
"I'm a doctoreal student at Tennessee State University, and Obama center was opened on the same day, Juneteenth, a celebration for Black Americans," Terry said.
Artist T.M. Noel traveled to share his artwork, entitled "The Weight of the World and FLOTUS," which he says was inspired by the Obamas' time in the White House.
"We look at Barack and Michelle as hope, and we want that hope," Noel said.
Ron Schafetz and his dogs, Penny and Pippen, wanted to celebrate the moment with a creative photo by the statue of fellow dog lovers, the Obamas.
He said Friday is about hope and joy.
"Whatever it takes to get everybody happy," Schafetz said.
The Obama Presidential Center opens soon, and there are openings and closings to navigate.
Monday, June 8 at 6 a.m. - Friday, June 19 at 6 a.m.
Blackstone, from Midway Plaisance to 60th St. - no parking both sides of the street.
60th St. from Dorchester to Blackstone.
Monday, June 8 at 6 a.m. - Monday, June 22 at 5 p.m.
60th St. from Dorchester to Stony Island - no parking both sides of the street.
60th St. from Blackstone to Stony Island EB
Monday, June 15 at 6 a.m. through Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m.
Midway Plaisance, from Dorchester to Stony Island EB and WB
Blackstone, from 59th St. to Midway Plaisance
Cornell, from Stony Island to 57th St.
Stony Island, from Midway Plaisance to 63rd St.
Stony Island, from 59th St. to 57th St.
59th St. EB, from Harper to Stony Island.
Monday, June 15 at 6 a.m. - Saturday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m.
Midway Plaisance, from Woodlawn to Blackstone.
Dorchester, from 59th to 60th St.
Wednesday, June 17 at 6 a.m. - Friday, June 19 at 6 a.m.
Woodlawn, from 59th to 60th St.
Midway Plaisance, from Ellis to Woodlawn.
Sidewalk restrictions
Monday, June 8 at 6 a.m. - Monday, June 22 at 5 p.m.
60th St. from Dorchester to Stony Island.
Monday, June 15 at 6 a.m. - Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m.
Midway Plaisance, from Dorchester to Stony Island.
Blackstone, from 59th St. to Midway Plaisance.
Cornell, from Stony Island to 57th St.
Monday, June 15 at 6 a.m. - Saturday, June 20 at 11:59 p.m.
Midway Plaisance, from Woodlawn to Blackstone.
Dorchester, from 59th St. to 60th St.
Obama Presidential Center representatives have released a list of performers taking part in Thursday's Grand Opening Ceremony, which begins at 11 a.m.:
The Roots
Bruce Springsteen
Christina Aguilera
Common
Eddie Vedder
Jennifer Hudson
John Legend
Stevie Wonder
Marc Anthony
Tems
Bono and The Edge
Marsai Martin
From serving up comfort food on Chicago's South Side to helping shape the dining experience at one of the city's most anticipated landmarks, Chef Cliff Rome's recipe for success keeps getting bigger.
Now, the restaurateur behind several beloved eateries, including Peaches in Bronzeville, is bringing his vision to the Obama Presidential Center.
"We've made our way from Peach's here to the Obama Presidential Center and now we are in the kitchen," chef Rome said.
He explained that Tefari's Kitchen is named after President Obama's executive chef, who used to be their personal chef as well.
Even without stepping foot on the Obama Presidential Center campus, visitors can access a bit of the archive.
The former president chose a portion of what he considered his most meaningful speech to go on the outside of the tower.
The words are an excerpt from the former president's speech in 2015. It was on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery, and the attack on peaceful civil rights demonstrators on the Edmund Pettus Bridge known as Bloody Sunday.
On that day, he walked across the bridge with the late Congressman John Lewis, who was among those beaten on Bloody Sunday.
"Two hundred thirty nine years after this nation's founding, our union is not yet perfect. But we are getting closer. Our job is easier because somebody already got us through that first mile. Somebody already got us over that bridge," Obama said.
The speech was titled "You Are America." Obama described his speech as best capturing what America should be. He said it called on a new generation to do their part.
The words wrapped around the tower read, "You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word 'We.' 'We The People.' 'We Shall Overcome.' 'Yes We Can.' That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours."
Read more of President Barack Obama's speeches and see more of his public records through the first fully digital presidential archive available online.
Barack Obama's rise is synonymous with politics.
But one of his longest relationships in Chicago came from business.
Investor John Rogers' story now has a place inside the Obama Presidential Center.
"Craig was always the star of the family. You know, Michelle was just a little sister. And a few years later, we're all back in Chicago. I'm playing a lot of basketball with Craig. And we were hanging out, and he'd start bringing his little sister's boyfriend around," Rogers said. "Eventually got to be friends with Barack, but it all happened through Craig and Michelle."
Rogers grew up on Chicago's South Side and built a career on a simple philosophy: Patience wins.
"I would say the things that have kept us going for 43 years are a couple of things. I think the fact that we have a core belief in value investing, you know. We still have our tortoise as a logo; that's 43 years old, when we remind people of that old Aesop's fables. Slow and steady wins the race," Rogers said.
Rogers founded Ariel Investments In 1983. It's a Chicago-based investment firm built around long-term value investing.
"So we've always consistently showed our customers we're going to be buying stocks at bargain prices in the midst of turmoil, in the midst of uncertainty," Rogers said.
That approach helped turn Ariel into the largest Black-owned mutual fund company in the country, and made Rogers one of Chicago's most influential business leaders.
"The other thing that happened, though, I was a few just a few years older than Barack. And I had been involved in a lot of campaigns along the way," Rogers said.
Rogers' impact in Chicago stretches beyond balance sheets. His relationship with Barack Obama dates back to Obama's rise in Chicago civic and political circles.
"And I remember going to the Hyde Park Hilton for a fundraiser, and there was maybe 40 people in the room. And I remember thinking, 'wow, he's a remarkably great speaker for his first campaign. And maybe one day he'll be mayor someday or something.' You know, never dreaming that he had the chance to one day be our first Black president," Rogers said.
When Obama won the presidency in 2008, Rogers served as co-chair of the presidential inaugural committee.
Ariel Investments was also the transition headquarters.
"For some reason, the federal building wasn't ready for the president-elect. So for the next three days, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, we are the temporary transition headquarters. So everyone was here as he was starting to form the government," Rogers said.
Rogers now serves on the Obama Foundation Board, helping shape what comes next.
Inside the museum there's even a signature space named the John W. Rogers Jr. Exhibition Gallery: "Working for the Common Good."
The gallery was made possible through support from Mellody Hobson, the co-CEO of Ariel Investment and George Lucas.
"I think they knew how much I believe in the Obamas and how engaged and involved I've been in their work for so long. And I think she wanted to honor that. And, I can't thank her enough for giving me this opportunity," Rogers said.
