Breaking Ground on the Obama Presidential Center

After years of hard work, dedication, and endless support from our Chicago neighbors and caring people all around the world, we broke ground on the Obama Presidential Center. Check out highlights from the ceremony.

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You can check out President Obama’s remarks here, and you can read Mrs. Obama’s remarks here.

Watch President and Mrs. Obama's surprise visit to Chicago Women In Trades!

As part of our groundbreaking festivities, President and Mrs. Obama surprised some of the hardworking women who are a part of the Obama Presidential Center Construction Workforce initiative.

President and Mrs. Obama, Mayor Lightfoot, and Governor Pritzker during the Obama Presidential Center groundbreaking ceremony in Jackson Park in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President Obama during the Obama Presidential Center groundbreaking ceremony in Jackson Park in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot break ground.
President Obama during the Obama Presidential Center groundbreaking ceremony in Jackson Park in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
Hyde Park Academy High School student Zell Wilson introduces Mrs. Obama during the Obama Presidential Center groundbreaking ceremony in Jackson Park in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
Hyde Park Academy High School student Trenton Banks introduces President Obama during the Obama Presidential Center groundbreaking ceremony in Jackson Park in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with Hyde Park Academy High School students at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with Chicago Public Schools students at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with Chicago Public Schools students at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with Hyde Park Academy High School students at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with Hyde Park Academy High School students at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with Hyde Park Academy High School students at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama drop by a workforce training program in Chicago, IL on September 28, 2021.
They paid a visit to Chicago Women in Trades, an organization that has supported, advocated, and trained women in the Chicagoland area for the last 40 years.
President and Mrs. Obama drop by a workforce training program in Chicago, IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama drop by a workforce training program in Chicago, IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama drop by a workforce training program in Chicago, IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama drop by a workforce training program in Chicago, IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama drop by a workforce training program in Chicago, IL on September 28, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with the 2021 University of Chicago class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago, IL on September 27, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with the 2021 University of Chicago class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago, IL on September 27, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with the 2021 University of Chicago class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago, IL on September 27, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with the 2021 University of Chicago class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago, IL on September 27, 2021.
Obama Scholar Prachi Naik asks a question during the conversation.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with the 2021 University of Chicago class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago, IL on September 27, 2021.
President and Mrs. Obama join a roundtable discussion with the 2021 University of Chicago class of Obama Foundation Scholars at the Obama Foundation offices in Chicago, IL on September 27, 2021.
Obama Scholar Grace Oxley asks a question during the conversation.

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3D rendering of the Obama Presidential Center Plaza

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While groundbreaking is a huge moment, it’s just the beginning. Sign up for our new Obama Presidential Center Explorer email series and come along for the journey. We’ll have exclusive updates and previews all the way through our Grand Opening in 2025.

A young man and woman sit in conversation on a park bench.

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Breaking Ground on the Obama Presidential Center

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