The long-awaited Obama Presidential Center officially opened this week in Chicago, marking the completion of a project that has been in development for more than a decade and has faced legal challenges, construction delays, and escalating costs along the way, as reported [1] by The Post Millennial.
During an interview tied to the opening celebration, former first lady Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama were asked by Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts to describe the word that best defines the next chapter of their lives.
Barack Obama responded with a single word: “Fun.”
Michelle Obama gave a different answer.
“Me.”
The comment came as the Obama Presidential Center welcomed visitors for the first time following years of planning and construction. The project was initially announced in 2015 and was promoted as a major investment in Chicago’s South Side.
Located on a nearly 20-acre campus, the center includes a museum, public gathering areas, athletic facilities, gardens, and exhibits dedicated to the Obama presidency.
Supporters of the project have argued that the center will bring tourism, jobs, and economic development to surrounding neighborhoods.
However, the development has also faced significant criticism throughout its history.
Opponents challenged the project through multiple lawsuits connected to the decision to construct the center in Chicago’s Jackson Park. According to CBS reporting, portions of those legal challenges were dismissed in federal court.
The project also drew scrutiny over its budget. Initial cost projections increased substantially during development. According to CNN, the final cost of the Obama Presidential Center reached approximately $850 million.
The center’s design has also generated public debate over the years, with some critics comparing the structure’s appearance to the Death Star from the Star Wars franchise.
Despite those controversies, the center officially opened this week and is expected to attract visitors from across the United States.
Ahead of the opening, Barack Obama announced the milestone in a social media post.
“The Obama Presidential Center is finally opening! Tune in today on Obama.org starting at 11am CT as Michelle and I share what this moment means to us and celebrate with friends, family, and members of the community in Chicago,” he wrote.
The Obama Presidential Center is finally opening!
Tune in today on https://t.co/GYkEOK8EuT [2] starting at 11am CT as Michelle and I share what this moment means to us and celebrate with friends, family, and members of the community in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/fZG3S0tgcL [3]
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 18, 2026 [4]
The opening ceremony also included a land acknowledgement. During the event, a speaker addressed the crowd by saying, “We’d also like to take a moment to recognize the original inhabitants of the land upon which we are gathered today.
We honor the Anishinaabe, the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi nations.”
The Obama Presidential Center has opened with the following statement:
“We’d also like to take a moment to recognize the original inhabitants of the land upon which we are gathered today.”
The opening represents the culmination of a project first unveiled more than 11 years ago.
While debates over costs, design, and the use of public parkland accompanied the center’s development, the facility has now opened its doors and begun welcoming visitors to Chicago’s South Side.
For the Obamas, the opening marks the completion of one chapter that began shortly after Barack Obama left the White House. For Michelle Obama, her description of what comes next was concise.
“Me.”