I visited the Obama Presidential Center, the most expensive presidential library in US history. Here are 15 things that surprised me most.

I visited the Obama Presidential Center during its opening week.

It was different from what I expected.

Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider The Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago's South Side this summer.

The $850 million center features a roughly 19-acre public campus and an immersive museum.

Former US President Barack Obama has the first-ever fully digital presidential library.

For over a decade, headlines have been written about the development of former US President Barack Obama 's $850 million presidential center in Chicago — from how it would impact the surrounding community to its visually striking design .

Now, it's open.

Located on the city's South Side, the sprawling 19.3-acre campus opened to the public on June 19.

I visited the Obama Presidential Center during its opening week, expecting an experience akin to those at other traditional US presidential libraries .

Instead, the Center challenged my assumptions through an immersive experience featuring massive art installations , interactive exhibits, and panoramic views of Chicago .

Here are some of the most surprising things I saw at the Obama Presidential Center.

Surprisingly, the Obama Presidential Center isn't located near the usual Chicago tourist attractions.

Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Your typical Chicago travel brochure might include sights from The Loop, the Chicago River, or the historic Grant Park, but the Obama Presidential Center isn't located near typical tourist attractions like The Bean, the Chicago Theatre, or the Art Institute of Chicago.

Instead, the Presidential Center is located eight miles south of the city's downtown, in the historic Jackson Park in the Woodlawn community.