Obama Presidential Center officially opens for visitors

The Obama Presidential Center, dedicated to preserving the legacy and administration of former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, officially opened its doors to the public on Friday.

Thousands of visitors gathered at the 20-acre site, which features a museum and library showcasing Obama-era artifacts, books, exhibits, conference spaces, athletic facilities, gardens, walking trails, playgrounds and public art installations.

The Obamas marked the opening with a special children’s “story time” event aimed at celebrating imagination, curiosity and the power of storytelling. The programme began with a reading of Maurice Sendak’s beloved 1963 children’s book, “Where the Wild Things Are.”

According to Emily Bittner, the center’s vice president of communications, the event reflected the institution’s mission of encouraging young people to dream bigger, discover new possibilities and understand their ability to create change in their communities.

Reading “Where the Wild Things Are” has become a tradition for the Obamas. Barack Obama read the book to children during his time in the White House, while Michelle Obama narrated a special 60th-anniversary unabridged audiobook edition.

The opening event featured Hollywood actor LeVar Burton, known for playing Kunta Kinte in the 1977 miniseries “Roots,” alongside Michelle Obama and librarian, author and mental health advocate Mychal Threets.

“The center is designed to be a place where young people can find their voices, explore ideas and build the confidence and skills needed to shape the future,” Bittner said.

The Obamas also personally welcomed visitors during the opening celebrations, which marked the end of years of planning, partnerships and community involvement. The foundation emphasized that the center was created as a space “for everyone” — bringing together people from the local community and around the world to learn, connect and be inspired.

Located in Jackson Park on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, the eight-story center was built at a cost of $850 million. It is funded entirely through private donations raised by the Obama Foundation and does not rely on public money.

The center will serve as the headquarters of the Obama Foundation, which focuses on developing future leaders through educational programmes, leadership training and youth initiatives.

Before the public opening, a private preview event was held on Thursday for around 3,000 invited guests, including former Obama staff members, celebrities and political leaders.

Attendees included former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden along with their spouses, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, US Senator Dick Durbin, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former presidential candidate Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of the Obamas and Biden, was not invited to the opening ceremony. Trump later reacted by sharing an AI-generated image of the center showing a large garbage bag placed on its roof.

The opening celebrations also featured performances from major musicians and entertainers including Bono, the Edge, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Questlove, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Eddie Vedder and Christina Aguilera.

Other celebrities who attended the preview event included Stephen Colbert, Dave Chappelle, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas and David Letterman.