Stephen Colbert left the Ed Sullivan Theater for Chicago’s South Side, taping a special episode of “The Late Show” with former President Barack Obama at the new Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. The sit-down aired May 5 as part of Colbert’s final stretch of shows before the program signs off on May 21, and it doubled as a national sneak peek at the museum and campus the city expects to open this summer.
Colbert Brings His Sendoff To The South Side
Colbert announced the Chicago visit in late April, telling his audience that the May 5 episode would be taped at the Obama Presidential Center, a move that pushed one of his last major interviews onto a South Side stage, as reported by The Wrap. Framed as part of the host’s CBS sendoff, the trip drew national attention to the still-new campus. For local viewers, the broadcast played like an after-hours preview of a civic project many neighbors have been watching rise for years.
Obama Talks Legacy And The Museum
Inside the museum, Obama told Colbert he wanted exhibits that would “put my presidency in context” and said he hopes visitors leave feeling they can be agents of change, according to CNN Newsource. The conversation mixed policy talk with late-night banter: Obama ribbed Colbert about his look and, when the host floated a hypothetical presidential run, replied that “the bar has changed,” an exchange captured by The Wrap. A preview in the Chicago Tribune also highlighted those lighter asides and the fact that the show chose a South Side backdrop just ahead of the center’s opening.
When To Visit And How To Get Tickets
The Obama Foundation lists June 19 as the public opening date for the 19.3-acre campus and details museum hours, tours and accessibility on its visit page, according to The Obama Foundation. The foundation notes that museum admission will be by timed entry only and warns demand is expected to be high. Local coverage pointed out that tickets for opening-day dates rolled out in early May; NBC Chicago reported that tickets went on sale at 9 a.m. on May 6, with a virtual queue and weekend slots expected to disappear fastest.
South Side Preps And The Local Ripple
City agencies and neighborhood businesses are already adjusting for the expected visitor surge. The CTA has extended and rebranded its No. 10 route to run year-round to the center beginning May 23, a change that No. 10 bus goes all in on Obama Center run reported is meant to close a transit gap between downtown and Jackson Park. Hoodline has also tracked neighborhood preparations and a short-term rental bump, noting that South Side hosts have begun seeing measurable tourism dollars as the center’s opening draws closer.
