The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago welcomes visitors on Friday, marking an important celebration over the Juneteenth weekend and adding to the American tradition of presidential libraries. These venues preserve historical documents and moments such as wars and elections but also house unusual artifacts from different eras.
Among the items stored are entire airplanes and spacecrafts alongside personal memorabilia, highlighting the unique features and moments of those who served as U.S. presidents. These libraries offer insights into their personal lives and the cultural context of their times.
Why It Matters
The quirky artifacts found in presidential libraries are not merely trivial; they play a significant role in public history. They humanize presidents beyond their policies and reveal cultural elements of their eras.
What To Know
Under the National Archives system, presidential libraries do more than store official records. They also house millions of personal items and gifts related to a president’s life before office. Some even include diplomatic gifts from foreign leaders.
Designed as a modern, community-focused campus, the Obama center differs from traditional archives. Newsweek compiled a list of some of the most surprising items hidden in presidential collections.
The Wackiest Things in Presidential Libraries
- An Entire Air Force One Plane – The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library features a retired Boeing 707, serving as Air Force One for multiple presidents from the 1970s to 2001. It is displayed within a massive glass pavilion. This dramatic exhibit offers insights into President Reagan’s diplomacy and travel protection by the Secret Service.
- A Space Capsule From the Space Race – The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library includes the Freedom 7 capsule, flown by astronaut Alan Shepard in 1961. This spacecraft marks a milestone in U.S. space exploration and links Cold War politics with space achievements.
- The Crates That Carried Nixon’s Pandas – After President Nixon’s 1972 China visit, the U.S. received two pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, housed at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Their transport crates are preserved at the Nixon library.
- Eleanor Roosevelt’s Pistol Permit – At the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Eleanor Roosevelt’s pistol permit, featuring her photo, signature, and thumbprint, is on display. She reportedly resisted Secret Service protection at times and carried a handgun.
- FDR’s Luxury Trash Can – Another curious item at the Roosevelt Library is a wastebasket crafted from a leather hatbox and lined with old Philadelphia municipal bonds. It features a brass lock and was a personal gift to FDR.
- A Cold War Atomic Bomb Board Game – The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library presents “Atomic Bombing Care,” a children’s game designed to teach about surviving nuclear attacks. Reminiscent of Cold War anxiety, it serves as a historical reminder.
What Could Be Unusual at the Obama Center?
The Obama Presidential Center stands out as a digital museum and community campus, not just a library. Although its full list of artifacts remains undisclosed, it likely includes gifts from foreign leaders and cultural items from Obama-era events.
Trump’s Future Library: A Different Kind of ‘Odd’
Plans for Donald Trump’s future presidential library suggest it may host unusual exhibits. A video released by Trump indicates a replica Oval Office, a large gold statue, and full-size aircraft displayed inside the building.
What Happens Next
Presidential libraries are unique as they continue to expand after opening when materials are processed and released. The Obama center combines a hybrid museum and archival space, embracing a digital-first approach. Some items, like gifts and personal memorabilia, may not be displayed publicly right away.