Searching for Answers About Chicago’s Obama Center and Its Spooky “Death Star” Building
By David Bittinger
June 19th, 2026
So, the Obama Center is having its grandiose opening today. It was supposed to open last October, but the Obama Foundation and big believers needed more time, more money, and more messages exhibited.
I’d say they also needed more of what’s been called by an indomitable journalist “The Chicago Way.” That way isn’t defined simply, but if you have your own Chicago history or are just a fair student of it, you have some idea. For decades, it struck me as a death grip on bedrock precincts and back rooms, with pats on the back delivered alongside elbows to the ribs.
Then the mayor role descended an aptitude or two and traditional Chicago graft diffused. The Detroit-ification of Chicago proceeds, but at least there’s a new tourist attraction packed full of messages.
The Obama Center is technically a “presidential library,” but it’s unlike the 15 previous presidential libraries, which were purposed as sites for historical research, with features meaningfully representing a presidency.
If you realistically consider the Obama Center — the way it was muscled onto previously protected Chicago lakefront and the focus of the entire enterprise — this is no library.
The Obama Center is a place of worship. You could call it The First Church of the Holy Machine or Sacred Sanctuary of The Progressive, but from any realistic perspective, it isn’t secular. I’ve been to many churches, a number of synagogues, and one mosque. Of course, these places of worship differ in focus but all were created to sustain a faith. So was this one.
The official name is The Obama Presidential Center / A Global Center For Change. (Don’t forget the tag line.) But this thing was not created as a storehouse of historical fact. It was created as a site for the faithful to refresh their faith and for others to acquire it.
The Center’s particular belief system is slickly marketed. It’s also symptomatic of my ex-hometown’s fake-hope past and little-hope present. Watching collectivist politics celebrated in this political theme park brings despair. This is 2026 Chicago’s idea of achievement?
Through a sentimental fog, I still recall the tough-skinned beauties of old Chicago. I appreciated many places in the rugged kingdom of Daley the First, from Harlan Berk Coins to Comiskey Park.
But the Obama Center seems somehow more politically sinister than Chicago’s traditional dead voters and wise guy aldermen sent to prison. It’s been aggressively insider-sponsored by a jurisdiction that’s remained comatose through the departures of Caterpillar, Boeing, Tyson Foods, Morton Salt, and many fed-up taxpayers. Even the Bears have given up bearing down in Chicago.
Would you like to question the source of the worshipful Obama political enterprise being the new face of a failing city? I sure would, but I could no more get an audience with His Hopeness than I could with another savior figure.
So here are a few questions posed by me (DB) about the Obama Center. They’re followed by answers I’ve drawn from statements of the Obama Foundation and associated believers, which I’m calling Chicago-Based Word (CBW).
DB: What’s with that bizarre building? Senator Ted Cruz touched off howls of hilarity among architectural critics and social media with his comment “Locating the Death Star in Chicago was a bold move.”
CBW: Obama Foundation Deputy Director Kim Patterson explained, “The building’s shape is meant to mimic four hands coming together to show the importance of our collective action.”
DB: Really, seriously? Well, if Star Wars wasn’t the inspiration for that thing, maybe it was the pyramidal buildings representing The Party’s authority in George Orwell’s novel 1984: the Ministries of Truth, Love, Peace, and Plenty. Did that literary architectural nightmare inspire this actual Chicago nightmare?
CBW: “When visitors look up at the Obama Presidential Center’s museum building, they’ll see three simple, powerful words: ‘You are America.’ Those words come from a speech that is especially close to my heart — the one I gave in Selma on the 50th anniversary of the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.” — Barack Obama (Apparently the “Big Brother” style was just coincidental.)
DB: Does the Center actually have an Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden?
CBW: Yes, according to the Obama Foundation, “to educate visitors on healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability.” (DEI for vegetables should mandate the inclusion of turnips, even celery.)
DB: Does the Center’s posh, NBA-style “Home Court” exhibit represent some accomplishment of the Obama administration?
DB: Speaking of connections, who was the connected fundraiser already under investigation in 2005 when he arranged a sweet deal for then-Senator Obama’s Chicago mansion? Wasn’t his name Tony, maybe Big Tony? In 2008 — on the very day Barack became the presidential nominee — that Obama pal from the Outfit was convicted on 24 counts, including bribery, money laundering, and wire fraud. Is Democrat wise guy Tony featured in any Center exhibits?
CBW: (No comment.)
DB: Why did the Obama Foundation insist its political theme park be built on lakefront parkland previously protected from development? What about the many objections from preservationists and environmentalists? Is a massive building in the middle of that flyway worth the danger to migratory birds?
CBW: “The foundation is taking multiple steps to ensure the Obama Presidential Center has a positive impact for the migratory pattern on the site.” (The birds were unavailable for comment.)
DB: Aren’t many low-income residents of that Southside neighborhood being forced out by rising rents and speculation? Housing advocates point out that property owners are increasingly converting long-term affordable rentals into highly profitable short-term tourist rentals.
CBW: When asked about this specific pressure on affordable housing locally, the Obama Foundation declined to comment, citing “limited bandwidth” as they prepare for the Center’s opening.
DB: Did your foundation consider that Chicago’s lavish government pensions and kleptocratic governance had years ago pushed the city down the rabbit hole of financial wonderland? What is the current estimate of further infrastructure costs to be imposed on overtaxed Chicagoans by the Obama Center?
CBW: They’re estimated at $200 million. Currently.
DB: The costs of the Obama Center ballooned from an initial estimate of $300 million to approximately $850 million, plus over $400 million in public road modifications. Was all this just taken in stride by the 20-year politician who owns oceanside estates on Martha’s Vineyard and Hawaii plus red-brick mansions in Washington D.C. and Chicago? Is the Center just another painlessly afforded luxury?
CBW: “We didn’t build the Obama Presidential Center to celebrate my ability to bring about change. We did it to unlock yours . . . . This isn’t my center. It’s yours.” — Barack Obama
DB: Your Center’s exhibits tend toward cringey. There’s one on Obama’s 2008 election, Be the Change! Then there are the Yes We Can and Sky of Hope exhibits. Shouldn’t there be an exhibit about the president who’s repeated “I” and “me” more times than even Donald Trump? Wouldn’t visitors be impressed by a Poser of Pride exhibit?
CBW: The Obama Foundation describes the character of the exhibits at the Obama Presidential Center Museum as “dynamic, non-static, interactive, and deeply rooted in the grassroots power of ordinary people.”
DB: Hey, here are ideas for three more exhibits that would be dynamic, non-static and so forth! One on Obama’s 2012 “red line” warning to Syria about human rights violations, which he allowed to pass without action: Red Line Sunset! And an exhibit celebrating his administration’s use of the IRS to target conservative and Republican organizations before the 2012 elections: Auditing the Bad Guys. And one about —
CBW: The center aims to “inspire, empower and connect people to change their world,” functioning as a “hub that draws people in and then sends them out.” — Museum Director Dr. Louise Bernard
DB: Every presidential library since FDR’s has been a resource for historical research. But with the world’s strangest cathedral and exhibits of supplication, your Center provides a resource for creepy worship.
CBW: “We consistently put our values and principles into action.” — Obama Foundation
DB: Columnist John Kass called your Center “The Obama Temple of Adoration and Fealty.” Wouldn’t that name make your tourist attraction an even bigger draw?
CBW: It’s The Obama Presidential Center / A Global Center For Change. Say my name.
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Bittinger lives in Wisconsin as a long-time refugee but glad grandfather, misses the Chicago and Glen Ellyn he recalls, admires fellow JKN readers brave enough to still live in Chicago and Mahler fans who still go to the CSO. He’s working up the nerve to go to a White Sox game this year.
Comments 38
Thank you Dave.
Lest we forget, Chicago could have had a billion dollar George Lucas Star War museum, privately funded on the lakefront, but, oh no, the “Enemies of the Park” and their woke allies scuttled the project. Not a peep out of this crew for Barry’s tortured self-indulgent hideous “death warmed over” rock in the park.
I believe there was a lot of pushback from the park protection folks. However – Obama.
Duly noted.
Just another example of “rules for thee not for me”.
I for one will not be making plans to visit the OTAF in this lifetime.
This temple could be dubbed part of the Great Exodus Trail, starting at the Loop and running all the way to Hammond, where Bear fans can meet to watch football.
Masterfully incisive, witty and on-point and a cloud of flak shall be tossed up by the witless Hopium addicts against this essay. Sir, this fine work will go national! Well done.
Look at the beautiful English Gothic buildings of the U of Chicago, walk through the Olmstead designed park, view the beautiful lake front and the Palladian Beau-Arts Museum of Science & Industry. Then look at this unavoidable monstrosity and cry. President Obama’s legacy to Chicago is to ruin much of it’s beauty.
He certainly has. He’s robbed the city of its sole.
What is the purpose of a presidential library? Those I have visited have been interesting and even inspirational. Perhaps they should be built only posthumously.
Their original purpose was to assemble and store primary source documents relating to that president’s administration and so facilitate the research of historians and biographers; ie, put everything in one place with easy access and space to work. In other words, you need storage space, work areas, catalog facilities, sanitary facilities, maintenance facilities, operating space for security, and some nice and relevant decorations. Three Quaonset huts or your average small town library building will do.
Starting with Nixon and Reagan more elaborate displays [making them museums with a library attached rather than libraries with some museum decorations]. They have gotten way out of hand! Let’s see if Trump’s Presidential library reverses the trend. He has an affinity for extravagant display
, but real taste architecturally.
In spite of all the flaws of the exterior architecture, it is the interior of this building with its Obama Shrine, gift shop, and restaurant that deserves our awe, praise and worship. The new Reverend Wright Chicken Coop Restaurant will offer world class cuisine with fresh chicken that fly in on there own…in other words America’s chickens have come home to roost…right there in the Obama Presidential Center restaurant!
Hello Obama haters from a guy in Florida, Do you need a hug after STEVIE WONDER AND PALS sang praises to the former President on Thursday? Tickets are sold out thru November so while you have plenty of time to avoid going,others will and tourists and some may return depending on special events,etc. I subscribe here for John’s good sense on Chicago politics not his bias towards certain minority politicians and yes Obama took plenty of graft from Mr.Rezko etc.,early on. But no scandals in his White House for eight years compared to the current occupant,a New Yawker I could never vote for but my wife did. Bottom line? I may or may not resubscribe to this blog depending on John’s health but those of you who can’t see the value of Obama’s ugly exterior Center ON THE INSIDE,just mutter amongst yourselves and root for the sorry White Sox….
“No scandals in his White House for eight years?” You’ve overdosed on Obama’s hopium.
Yes Mark you’re correct. The cities over in this country who worked hard to get The World Cup are raking in money. Boston has run out of alcohol. Chicago? Nah….THEY GOT THE OBAMA LIBRARY. Ya know what they say about Chicago,
” ..grifters come for the grift, but stay for the graft..”
The foreboding edifice looks like something out of a Ridley Scott sci-fi movie. Approach at your own peril.
Let’s not forget the worshiping press. CNN covered yesterday’s proceedings live for hours. Dwarfing coverage of events like presidential inaugurations and papal installments.
If Trayvon Martin had a flak tower monument built to honor his legacy it would look like that.
David,
Perfect synopsis of the temple to Allah on public land in south shore! Always amazed me how slick willy (Obama) blackmailed the city into allowing this monstrosity into the neighborhood. But the “great orator” got his way, on the city’s dime as well. Apparently all his “donors” vanished and millions are now owed to the poor schumcks that contracted to build this temple, most minority businesses that can ill afford not being paid. They too, smoked too much “hopium” and figured they were doing something important for the city! HAH! In any event, rest assured that after the hype and hoopla is over, Chicago wil get stuck for the tab – to maintain, provide security, and, no doubt, operate this edifice to Allah! Just a matter of time…stay tuned…
It does seem to resemble the Muslim temple Kaapa that is used as the center of Hajj ceremonies in Mecca. Strange coincidence I bet…
It will be closed in 3 years. No funds available. The parks people said no to the star wars museum and no to a children’s museum, but this they said yes to. Ah the “r” word is a powerful last ditch tool.
Karen,
Agreed, if not sooner, once the appeal where’s off. It’s a one and done visit, not like the other great Chicago museum attractions that change over the years. Went to several other presidential libraries, saw them once no reason to return.
It’s not done until the finishing touch, the Eye of Obama is added.
Thank you for your article. As the daughter of an architect who chose this profession because of the Chicago architecture, I believe he is rolling over in his grave. And to add fuel to the fire, it had to be built in Jackson Park.
Sadly, you are spot on here sir. Obama, HRC, and the neoliberals greased the skids for Trump, who while vile, was/is still perhaps the better alternative. I never thought I’d ever say that. Obama let everyone down except for liberal, virtue signalers.
Trump exists because of their disastrous plot to destroy America. There’s no way he’d have ever been elected when Democrats were still sane.
Robert, you’re absolutely correct. It’s absolutely Obamas fault Trump is our president. When he mocked Trump at the White House Correspondents dinner, he triggered Trump into actually running. Trump had joked about it for years but thanks to Obamas ridicule finally did it. THANKS BARACK. YOU DID THIS COUNTRY A GREAT SERVICE. No matter what anyone says Obama finally did ONE THING right!
The architectural style is called Brutalism, and it was very popular in Ceausescu’s Romania. It’s meant to put the proles in their place as a reminder of how insignificant they are next to The State.
This is essentially a monument for someone who, along with his followers, firmly believes he’s God. What a waste. Was listening to WIND this morning, and an interview with a Hispanic plumbing contractor that Mr. and Mr. Obama are bankrupting.
Basically, all of the meaning of the Great Pyramid with none of the aesthetics.
Nothing says ” The Chicago Way” like stiffing the very minority contractors you championed! Of course this part of the story was conveniently ignored by Chicago media during its ass kissing of the Obamas. The lack of windows on the lower floors is practical in order to stop the looting and burglaries common to the area. Its future is insolvency despite its forcing of CPS students into indoctrination “field trips”, at only a “nominal” fee of course. Yet, this will only be a miniscule of money needed to sutain the grift and it already is in the red. My prediction is it will eventually be sold as a new prison complex. It seems to mimic the Federal jail facility in downtown doesn’t it? Very fitting.
Great Commentary DB. Perhaps this monstrosity of unrestrained ego actually has a second purpose. I’m thinking it’s actually a massive headstone for his grave. Lots of room for Big Tony, Emil, Rahm and the rest of the enablers to be buried there too. Axelrod and the rest of the Tribune compliant media asskissers can use a separate area nearer the toilets where they can join the Patron Saint toilet tax breaks; JB “my wife did it” pritzger. Oh, and be sure to make room for a minority section for all the favored contractors who were awarded by getting stiffed, and thus died poor
This eyesore makes this south side yearn for the return of the Us steel south Works as a more proper south side memorial
Simply the desecration of beauty and harmony.
Looks like a
Ooooops, hit click b4 finishing
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Never mind . Heavy finger day
Nice work Dave. There’s always truth in humor.
Hey, BO !!!
It ain’t mine in no way shape form, fantasy (of yours) or dream (of yours).
You ain’t gonna force another BS belief of yours down my throat, you traitor !
Very nice column David. You hit it on the head by citing the “CBW” response, “dynamic, non-static, interactive, and deeply rooted in the grassroots power of ordinary people.” I stopped looking at the President’s annual presidential speeches to Congress because after the first one or two all I could hear was, “Blah, blah, blah, bla blah blah blah.”