Remember the taste of your first kiss? Here at the Obama Kissing Rock, we celebrate a very special first kiss. This isn’t your average presidential monument dedicated to war or politics. It celebrates Barack and Michelle Obama as people. It marks the spot where their love story began.
The Obama Kissing Rock might seem like an ordinary rock with a plaque. But it’s a monument to a sweet moment. It sits in front of a Subway at 53rd and South Dorchester in Chicago. This unassuming spot is where Barack Obama first kissed Michelle.
Let’s take a little trip back in time. Imagine it’s the summer of 1989. Barack and Michelle are on their first date. This location was once a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop. They shared ice cream on the curb right here. That curb became their dinner table. More importantly it became the site of their first kiss.
The neighboring shopping center installed the current plaque in 2012. The plaque is attached to a 3000-pound boulder. It shares a quote from Barack Obama about that special day. He said, “On our first date I treated her to the finest ice cream Baskin-Robbins had to offer, our dinner table doubling as the curb. I kissed her, and it tasted like chocolate.”
Though Baskin-Robbins is now a Subway, you can still get your ice cream fix. There’s another Baskin-Robbins in the same shopping center. It is co-located with a Dunkin Donuts.
The Obama Kissing Rock is a reminder of a genuine connection. It is a testament to a love that seems unshakable. Take a moment to appreciate this unique monument. It celebrates the beginning of a remarkable journey. It all started with a simple kiss and a taste of chocolate.