See President Obama’s reaction to the museum’s newest (and largest!) exhibit

The image is a photograph of Barack Obama looking at the Power of Words prototype. The room is semi dark and Barack Obama is facing opposite the camera in a dark silhouette. In the photo he is looking at the screen of the Power of Words prototype. On the screen of the Power of Words prototype is a candid image of Barack Obama speaking and smiling at a small child. Above the candid photo is a quote from Barack Obama that reads, “For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. - President Barack Obama, Inauguration 2009.”

During his time in office, President Obama achieved numerous "firsts." He was the first contemporary president to enact large-scale health care reform through the Affordable Care Act, and he was the first president to publicly endorse same-sex marriage.

But one of the most enduring aspects of President’s Obama’s legacy was as America's first digital president. President Obama took office during the burgeoning digital media era, and his campaign and administration used innovative forms of technology to connect with millions of people, uniting a variety of audiences around a common goal: building a strong democracy in the face of change.

That’s why it’s only fitting that the Obama Presidential Center—currently under construction on Chicago’s South Side—will feature cutting-edge digital experiences that will serve as an important part of our work to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world.

The Museum at the Center will include immersive films and projections, digital art installations, soundscapes, and interactive digital programs — all in the service of promoting action from the Foundation’s global community.

One signature element of the Presidential Center Museum will be Power of Words, a four-story canvas for filmic storytelling, art, and sound. Power of Words helps us understand the potency of words and language as important tools that inspire, empower, and connect people in their pursuit of social progress. Get a behind the scenes look at the production of our Power of Words prototype.

President Obama tours prototype of 'Power of Words' immersive exhibit

President Obama came to Chicago to get a preview of a 42 foot high prototype of what will be the final installation. At an eventual height of 88 feet, the ‘Power of Words’ installation will be a signature digital element across the four levels of the Muse

An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. In the image four people stand around a table looking at a blueprint of the Power of Words display located on the table. Three of the people in the picture are facing opposite the camera. All have a range of light to deep skin tones. One person in the picture is talking and pointing to a specific point in the blueprint. This person has on glasses, has a white goatee and beard, and is wearing a dark red sweater. Behind the four people is a white wall. On the ceiling of the location are black steel rods with spotlighting.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. In the center of the image three people with a range of light to deep skin tones are attempting to lift a black steel beam off of the floor. The person in the center is crouched down. He is wearing glasses, a plaid shirt, and a baseball hat. The person on the left is crouched down with their hands on the beam. They are wearing a baseball cap, a black hoodie, and blue jeans. The person on the right is standing, looking at the beam. He is wearing a black construction hat, a black t-shirt, and black pants. On the left side of the three men are additional black beams stacked on rolling carts. Behind the three men is a green construction truck.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. The wide shot features the entire scale of the Power of Words construction site. There are white walls and on the ceiling is black steel rods with spotlighting. On the floor of the construction site are steel black beams, a four story tall, green and white construction crane, and a white construction truck that says, “Logix.” Across the floor of the construction site, a number of people are walking around.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. In the photo, two people with light skin tones are steadying a silver metal display beam on two rolling carts. The display beam is about seven feet tall. The person holding the left side of the beam has short gray hair and is wearing orange construction gloves, a silver jacket and gray pants. The person holding the right side of the beam is wearing black construction gloves, a baseball cap, a dark colored shirt, and gray pants. To the left of the two people is another beam sitting upright on the floor of the construction site. On the right side of the two people are silver beams laying down on the floor of the construction site. In the distance, behind the two people, is an open door next to a staging site covered by silver curtains. On the ceiling of the location are black steel rods with spotlighting.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. In the photo, two people with a light and deep skin tone are working together to bind two pieces of white canvas. The person on the left is holding the two pieces of canvas together; the person on the right is attempting to snap the two pieces of canvas together. The person on the left has closely cut hair, a red goatee and beard, and is wearing glasses and a black hooded sweatshirt. The person on the right has no hair, a gray and black beard, and is wearing glasses and a black hoodie.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. The image shows a large piece of white canvas hanging from a scaffold. In the bottom right corner of the image, a person with a light skin tone wears a backwards baseball cap and an orange t-shirt as he holds onto excess canvas.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. It is an image of a four story silver metal frame of the Power of Words display. The bottom story of the display is covered in white canvas. Next to the display is a large monitor – the size of a small movie theater screen – with a purple screen backdrop. In front of the monitor are small scaffoldings and a white construction table. Several people are standing in front of the monitor and the table. On the ceiling of the location are black steel rods with spotlighting.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. It is a low angle shot of the Power of Words display. In the image, there is the four story silver metal frame of the Power of Words display. The bottom story of the display is covered in white canvas. To the left of the display is a green construction crane. To the right of the display is a tall white beam with wires hanging out of it.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. It is a wide shot of the Power of Words display and features a four story silver metal frame. Two construction workers with light skin tones are on a green crane hanging white canvas on the silver metal frame. On the floor are three people with light skin tones stand at the bottom of the crane under a scaffolding.

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An image of the construction site of the Power of Words display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. A wide shot of the Power of Words display shows two people with light skin tones standing on a heightened green construction crane in front of the Power of Words display. The display is four stories tall and is partially covered with white canvas. On the ground are several white construction tables. On the tables are laptops, bookbags, food, and boxes. On the right side of the Power of Words display is a large television monitor – the size of a small movie theater screen – with a green graphic on the screen. Standing in front of the monitor are four people with a range of light to medium skin tones. On the floor of the construction site are large white foam boards and an orange ladder.

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The image is a photograph of Barack Obama looking at the Power of Words prototype, which is not featured in the image. In the center Barack Obama stands, looking up at the photo and smiling. He is wearing a black blazer and denim blue jeans. His hands are in his pockets. Behind him to the left is a folding chairs in several rows and a monitor with indistinguishable words. The room is semi dark.

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The image is a photograph of Barack Obama looking at the Power of Words prototype. The background of the image is dark and the only person in the photo is Barack Obama. He is looking up at the Power of Words prototype (not in the picture) and smiling with no teeth. He is wearing a black blazer.

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The image is a photograph of Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and Marty Nesbitt looking at the Power of Words prototype. Barack Obama stands to the far left and is gesturing towards the Power of Words prototype with his left hand. He is wearing a black blazer, a black shirt, and dark denim pants. Marty Nesbitt stands in the middle: he is smiling. He has a brown dark complexion and gray hair. Valerie Jarrett stands on the far right. She is smiling with no teeth. Her hair is pulled back into a chingon and she is wearing black glasses. She has her right hand to her mouth. She is wearing a white blazer and black pants. Behind Valerie Jarrett, Marty Nesbitt, and Barack Obama is a white wall.

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The image is a photograph of Barack Obama looking at the Power of Words prototype. Barack Obama is looking up at the prototype (not featured in the image.) We can only see his head, neck, and shoulders. Next to him is a woman with gray hair and glasses. Behind him is a large screen with a blue and green pattern (picture indistinguishable.)

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