‘No kings’ at $830 million Obama Center opening

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Former President Barack Obama has opened his presidential center in Chicago by saying the United States was not created for kings.

The Obama Foundation held a grand opening ceremony Thursday, a day before the museum’s scheduled opening to the public.

Obama said a new story emerged from the American Revolution.

“A declaration that we are all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that in the newly-independent United States there will be no kings, no lords, no serfs, no subjects, but only citizens,” Obama said.

Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Joe Biden joined Obama and his family on stage. Obama did not mention President Donald Trump by name, although the current president was not in attendance.

Near the beginning of his speech, Obama recognized Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

“To our amazing foundation staff and our amazing board, to Gov. Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, thank you for making this center possible,” Obama said.

Obama said the facility could not be anywhere but the south side of Chicago.

“It’s an expression of thanks, an acknowledgment that so much of what I hold most dear I owe to the people of this city and the people of these surrounding neighborhoods,” Obama said.

The Obama Presidential Center sits on 19 acres in the city’s Jackson Park neighborhood.

Area residents raised concerns about a financial report showing the facility’s endowment fund with only $1 million, even though Obama promised a $470 million endowment.

Since a groundbreaking ceremony in 2021, estimated construction costs for the Obama center have surged from around $350 million to $850 million.

The museum itself has been privately funded, although taxpayers funded millions of dollars worth of infrastructure improvements in the area surrounding the development.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke before her husband and said immigrants are the beating heart of America.

“To refuse to respect the contributions and experiences of people who aren’t exactly like us, y’all puts us all at risk,” Michelle Obama said.

General admission tickets to the Obama Presidential Center cost $23 to $30 or $15 to $26 for Illinois residents.