Obama Center Opens as a Contemplative Monument to a Shifting Civic Era

Washington Post critic Philip Kennicott reviews the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, opening June 19, as a welcoming yet controversial blend of museum, public space and privately run foundation. With features like a rooftop garden, a public library branch and the so‑called Obamalisk tower, the center aims to be a civic hub rather than a traditional library, while raising questions about siting, transparency and legacy. The exhibit foregrounds civics and Obama-era milestones while acknowledging shortcomings like the Obamacare rollout, prompting reflection on whether Obama marks a new political era or the tail end of an older one, all while striving to be a good neighbor in the community.