# Obama Presidential Center in Chicago Has Opened {June 18, 2026} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 18, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006 "2026-06-18T17:39:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/1 "2026-06-18T17:39:13Z")
> **[Obama Center's opening draws former presidents, music legends and A-list...](https://apnews.com/article/museum-presidential-barack-obama-chicago-5812303765c1c9327f7cf643acd17aa4)** > > Former President Barack Obama, joined by three former presidents, is celebrating the opening of his presidential museum in Chicago in an extraordinary event that brought together former world leaders, A-list celebrities, athletes and other... It will open to the general public on June 19. We have several posters in the Chicago area. Anyone planning to visit? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/2 "2026-06-18T17:40:57Z")
We are watching it right now, and currently listening to Michelle Obama. This is great! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/3 "2026-06-18T17:54:55Z")
Tickets for a visit are sold out into November. I’ll visit after the hubub subsides. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/4 "2026-06-18T18:06:19Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > We have several posters in the Chicago area. Anyone planning to visit? Eventually. I don’t have time and money for too many touristy things, but next time I do it is certainly on the list of potential destinations. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/5 "2026-06-18T18:22:20Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Tickets for a visit are sold out into November. I’ll visit after the hubub subsides. Same. I’m a member of the Museum of Science and Industry just down the road, so maybe I’ll make a day of it. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/6 "2026-06-18T19:15:33Z")
I wish Obama was the President for the 250th celebration. Stevie Wonder just did Higher Ground. John Legend took a verse and Common rapped. Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen sang back-up. This is a great party. Everyone is singing along and dancing. Missed Michelle’s speech but got to hear Obama. Everybody is there: Clinton, Bush, Biden, Harris, Pritzker, Newsome, Tom Hanks. Saw Jill Biden but didn’t see Hillary or Laura Bush but they may be there. Obama looks like he is having a great time. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/7 "2026-06-18T21:14:40Z")
Tan suits aplenty! > **[Several sport tan suits at Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/several-sport-tan-suits-at-obama-presidential-center-grand-opening-in-chicago/3950703/)** > > Tan suits were sported by attendees of the Obama Presidential Center grand opening event on Thursday in a callback to a 2014 presidential "scandal." ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/8 "2026-06-18T21:42:41Z")
I’m not a fan of the tower building; it looks brutalist to me. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/9 "2026-06-18T21:53:45Z")
Not a fan of it either, but it’s also a nice break from gold/gilt if you know what I mean. I find it amazing that there is so much of it open and free to the public. Also that they discuss how to get there via not just car but also bus, train, and bike. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/10 "2026-06-18T21:57:11Z")
Yeah, it has a bleak Eastern Europe Cold War Iron Curtain vibe. Harsh-looking. I don’t know why it was made that way. But yes, if I were in Chicago, I’d totally visit. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/11 "2026-06-18T22:36:16Z")
I had been holding my metaphorical breath. So many people were there today who are on Donald’s hate list. I was concerned that fans of DT would try to do something that would please him. (Obviously there was plenty of security at the event, but even so…) Instead, it was an event to remind Americans and the world what class and decency and public spirit can do. Thank everything that’s holy! ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/12 "2026-06-19T01:38:28Z")
The best comment in an article about the Obamas looking at their new painting was, “Come back Mom and Dad. We miss you!” I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/13 "2026-06-19T02:15:14Z")
Manoman I’ve been seeing things lately. When I first saw that thumbnail, above, of Colbert, I thought it was Mike Johnson, and I was like - WHAAAAT? (fingertips splaying away from each side of head) To add - that building is quite something - not quite as nutty as the San Diego library, but still, sure wasn’t expecting a plane-crash-resistant grain silo. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/14 "2026-06-19T02:59:24Z")
This seems like a good place to post this. They’re showing a lot of short videos on YouTube about Obama, clips from his past speeches, comedy routines, extemporaneous remarks, etc. watching them just makes me want to weep. He has so much class. 😭 This one is worth watching – it’s only 5 minutes long. Watch to the very end. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NajhG8PpC2A/maxresdefault.jpg "Obama's 17 Best Jokes and Jabs") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NajhG8PpC2A) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/15 "2026-06-19T07:15:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m not a fan of the tower building; it looks brutalist to me. Probably the cheapest, fastest construction method. The sort of thing you do when you don’t have billionaire corporate ‘donors’ to give you money. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/16 "2026-06-19T08:04:44Z")
my concern is where I read it’ll cost $75M a year to maintain–that seems high to me ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/17 "2026-06-19T10:43:55Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > I’m not a fan of the tower building; it looks brutalist to me. > > Probably the cheapest, fastest construction method. > The sort of thing you do when you don’t have billionaire corporate ‘donors’ to give you money. Except he probably did have billionaire donors. The whole thing cost something like $850 million. And while that construction is, frankly, ugly, it’s not at all cheap. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/18 "2026-06-19T12:11:45Z")
I googled, and there are lots of articles about the architecture of the building. There’s a branch of the Chicago Public Library there. The building is taller than spread out for footprint concerns, and the outside shape is reminiscent of four hands placed together. But naturally, what anyone sees or feels at first glance is going to stick. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/19 "2026-06-19T12:22:24Z")
Wow something completely different than a glass tower, more like a sculpture, I like it. Love that’s there’s a CPL branch there too. bball courts amazing. Clad in NH granite, Well done!👏 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006/20 "2026-06-19T12:36:34Z")
The two of them are such a class act. It’s so refreshing to hear them speak. And the snub of DJT was quiet in a very loud way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-presidential-center-in-chicago-has-opened-june-18-2026/1031006.md?page=2)