Obama’s presidential library to be built in Chicago

President Barack Obama’s presidential library will be built on the South Side of Chicago, his foundation announced Tuesday morning.

The University of Chicago, where Obama taught law, will construct the library along with his foundation, which is run by longtime friends and supporters.

“With a library and a foundation on the South Side of Chicago, not only will we be able to encourage and affect change locally, but what we can also do is to attract the world to Chicago,” Obama said in a statement. “All the strands of my life came together and I really became a man when I moved to Chicago. That’s where I was able to apply that early idealism to try to work in communities in public service. That’s where I met my wife. That’s where my children were born.”

Chicago was long thought to be the front-runner, though in recent months it appeared New York City, where the Obamas may eventually live, had a good chance. It will either be built in Washington Park or Jackson Park.

Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama considered three states: Hawaii, Obama’s birth state, Chicago, where he launched his political career or New York, where he graduated from college. The Obamas made the announcement by video early Tuesday by video.

“I’m thrilled to be able to put this resource in the heart of the neighborhood that means the world to me,” the First Lady said. Every value, every memory, every important relationship to me exists in Chicago. I consider myself a South Sider.”

Chicago officials had argued that the library should be in their city, where Obama served as a community organizer and state senator. He taught at the University of Chicago while Michelle Obama worked at its hospital. Their daughters, Malia and Sasha, attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

Thirteen organizations submitted proposals to build the multimillion-dollar presidential library that will be much more than a library - part museum, part education center and part archive. It will house enough unclassified documents to fill four 18-wheelers and enough artifacts to fill a swimming pool.”

Obama has indicated he wants his library to become an anchor for economic development while reflecting the values and priorities of his public service career: expanding economic opportunity and promoting peace, justice and dignity throughout the world.

Thirteen presidential libraries are scattered across the nation, from Boston (John F. Kennedy) to Yorba Linda, Calif. (Richard Nixon). The most recent, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which opened on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 7:20 AM with the headline "Obama’s presidential library to be built in Chicago."