CHICAGO — The Obama Presidential Center, a nearly 20-acre cultural campus dedicated to the legacy of the nation’s first Black president, is set to open to the general public on Juneteenth following a formal dedication in Chicago attended by dignitaries. Located on Chicago’s South Side, near the area where Barack Obama launched his political career and where he and his family lived, the $850 million center blends political history with personal touches reflecting the Obama family’s roots in the community.
While finishing touches, including art installations and landscaping, are still underway, thousands of guests including museum staff family members, students, and journalists have been given previews in recent weeks. The center features a striking museum tower that will offer an admission-based experience packed with interactive and digital exhibits covering Obama’s presidential campaigns, policy achievements, and life in the White House. Unlike traditional presidential libraries, this is the first fully digital museum, with no original papers on display.
One prominent highlight is a life-size replica of the Oval Office, where visitors can sit behind the Resolute Desk and see items such as a handwritten letter from President George W. Bush and Obama’s BlackBerry phone. The interactive design aims to inspire visitors with the message that anyone, regardless of background, can aspire to the presidency. Exhibits also cover significant topics such as the Affordable Care Act, immigration policy, and personal moments from Obama’s presidency, including a clip of him singing “Amazing Grace” during a 2015 eulogy following the Charleston church shooting.
The center also provides spaces for public engagement and reflection. Outdoor features include a glass-paneled basketball court requested by Obama, reflecting his lifelong love for the sport and intended for community programs. A garden designed by former First Lady Michelle Obama cultivates lettuce and strawberries, while public picnic areas feature charcoal grills—an element Obama envisioned based on fond memories of grilling in Chicago parks.
Visitors can view approximately a dozen of Michelle Obama’s gowns exhibited behind glass, including the Narciso Rodriguez dress she wore on election night in 2008 and a rose gold Atelier Versace gown from a 2016 state dinner. Fabric swatches of these iconic dresses are also available to touch, enhancing the personal dimension of the museum.
The campus incorporates numerous works of art and spaces named after civil rights leaders, including the John Lewis Plaza, a public gathering spot. The on-site branch of the Chicago Public Library features a 70-foot mural depicting figures such as Walt Whitman, James Baldwin, and an image of Toni Morrison reading to a boy representative of a young Obama. The presidential reading room houses thousands of books personally selected by the Obamas and includes two signature striped chairs modeled after Obama’s favorite at home.
Admission to the museum tower is priced at $30, making it the most expensive ticket among U.S. presidential museums. Officials from the Obama Foundation justify the cost by citing the cutting-edge technology and unique design of the center. However, much of the campus—including the library, playground, sledding hill, grilling areas, and the tower’s top floor offering panoramic views of Chicago—is free and open to all visitors. Discounted tickets and free days will also be available for Illinois residents.
“This is a safe space for people to come and, yes, reflect on the historic moments of this presidency and the campaigns, but also to come together as a community to think about what change you can bring to your own neighborhood,” said Josh Harris, vice president of public engagement at the Obama Foundation. The center aims to serve both as a repository of history and a catalyst for civic engagement in the South Side community and beyond.