It was almost like a reunion. Scanning the faces on the podium, it was easy to spot recognizable ones. Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Vice-President Dick Cheney. And of course, President George W. Bush. They had come together again for the beginning of the next phase in President Bush’s legacy—the groundbreaking for his library. (http://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/) Housed on 23 acres at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, it will be home to some 70 million documents and 43,000 artifacts. It will also be home to a huge archive of electronic information—like emails. In fact, this library will have more electronic information than all the previous presidential libraries combined. (http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/)

The ceremony before the groundbreaking was lively. A noticeably thinner Cheney joked that “This may be the only shovel ready project in America”—to laughs and applause. For his part, President Bush steered clear of criticizing the current administration, but clarified that “…staying out of politics doesn’t mean staying out of policy.” The new center will also be home to a policy institute aimed at research and reform in areas like education and economic growth.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library was paid for through donations from 160,000 people. It will open in the spring of 2013.