CHICAGO — The Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side is scheduled to open to the public on the 19th, following a soft opening period at its 19-acre campus in Jackson Park. The $800 million complex includes a museum, a library, a basketball court, and outdoor facilities, and will be the first U.S. presidential archive that is fully accessible online.

The center contains a replica of President Barack Obama's Oval Office as it appeared during his two terms. Visitors to the replica can sit in Obama's chair and view the letter that former President George W. Bush left in the desk for him.

The Obama Foundation has hired about 500 people for the center's operation, and hundreds of people constructed the buildings in Jackson Park. Many of those hired for the project were from Chicago's South and West sides.

Staff are making internal adjustments during the soft opening while work continues outside to complete hardscaping and landscaping of the campus. Tickets for the museum are sold out through August 10, and more will be released over time.

A community meeting was held at Hyde Park Academy High School to inform neighbors about developments ahead of the grand opening. Choose Chicago and Big Bus tours announced a new seasonal shuttle service that will travel to the Obama Center and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett, who served as a senior advisor to Obama during his presidency, addressed the center's opening. "Yes, things are tough right now, but they've been tough before, and people sacrificed for us greatly for us all to have the opportunities that we had, and so, what do we do with that opportunity?" Jarrett said.