Barack Obama Presidential Center: History, Cost, Location, and Visitor Experience
The Barack Obama Presidential Center is one of the most anticipated cultural and historical landmarks in the United States. Really Big Coloring Books® and ColoringBook.com® present a free coloring page in celebration of the new library. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the center celebrates the life, presidency, and legacy of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and the nation’s first African American president.
Officially opened to the public in June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center sits on a 19.3-acre campus in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side, near the University of Chicago. The location is especially meaningful because Chicago is where Barack Obama began his political career and where he and former First Lady Michelle Obama built deep community roots. The ColoringBook.com company published a President Barack H. Obama “Yes We Did” coloring and activity book in 2008. You can see the cover here:
The Obama Library project cost approximately $850 million, making it one of the most expensive presidential centers ever constructed in the United States. Funding came primarily through private donations raised by the Obama Foundation.
Unlike traditional presidential libraries, the Obama Presidential Center is designed as a modern civic campus focused on community engagement, leadership, education, and public service. It features a world-class museum, a public library branch, educational facilities, walking trails, gardens, playgrounds, athletic spaces, and community gathering areas. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, view historical artifacts, experience a replica of the Oval Office, and learn about the social movements that shaped Obama’s presidency.
Really Big Coloring Books has made presidential coloring books for over 25 years, each book representing the current administration, regardless of political party affiliation.
The center is operated by the Obama Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Barack and Michelle Obama to inspire future generations of leaders and promote civic participation. The Foundation oversees programming, events, educational initiatives, and visitor experiences throughout the campus.
Thousands of visitors are expected annually, including students, historians, tourists, educators, community leaders, and people interested in American politics and civil rights history. The center has been designed to attract both local residents and travelers seeking to learn more about Obama’s presidency and the ongoing importance of democracy and public service.
More than just a presidential library, the Barack Obama Presidential Center serves as a living community resource. Its mission is to inspire hope, encourage civic engagement, and empower people to create positive change in their communities. As a major Chicago attraction and educational destination, the center stands as a lasting tribute to President Obama’s legacy and vision for the future.
For your own free coloring pages, about any event, please contact ColoringBook.com. The artists would love to help.