The Campus

The Obama Presidential Center is a vibrant campus located in Chicago’s historic Jackson Park designed to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. Head to the Museum to learn more about who shaped our democracy. Grab a book at the Chicago Public Library. The campus is open, free of charge, for all to enjoy.
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The Center, Your Way 

The Center offers a dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor public spaces open to everyone, no ticket required. 


First Time

First Time Visitors

A must-see guide to experience at the Obama Presidential Center during your first visit.
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Short

Short Visit

1-3 Hours Get the highlights of the campus!
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Ultimate

The Ultimate All-Day Experience

5-8 Hour Spend all day exploring exciting activities and sites at the Center.
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Campus Landmarks

People walk by the “Yes We Can” exhibit inside the Museum Building. The exhibit is a large circular structure with words that say “Yes We Can” in wooden letters. An exhibit screen is in the background.
Obama Presidential Center Museum

Discover the story of American democracy through the inspiring journey of the 44th President and First Lady at the Obama Presidential Center Museum.

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The Forum

Engage with new ideas, enjoy a meal, buy an Obama Presidential Center keepsake, or explore public art by Theaster Gates in the Forum. 

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Home Court

Step into our new athletics and programs hub featuring an NBA regulation-size court and flexible rooms built to empower the next generations.

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Obama Presidential Center's Chicago Public Library Branch

Explore a youth maker’s space, browse curated selections in the President’s Reading Room, or borrow a book at the new library branch. 

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Must See Sights And Activities On Campus

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Art Collection

View 28 world-class, commissioned art installations from artists across the globe. Almost all are free and publicly accessible.
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Campus Tours

Embark on an exclusive guided tour to discover the art, architecture, and design theory that bring the campus to life.
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Dining

Grab a bite to eat at our Cafe or Tafari’s Kitchen. Explore menu options before heading to the Center.
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An illustration of a deer, a butterfly on a flower, and a cardinal in the sky next to a big yellow son. Gradient blue ocean waves are in the background.

The Legacy of Jackson Park

The 19-acre Obama Presidential Center makes up just a portion of Jackson Park, where nature, culture, history, and resilience come together. The Park’s lands and waterways are within the traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe—the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. In the late 1800’s, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed Jackson Park as a public space for the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The park is now home to many cultural features, including the Osaka Garden, a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States, and the Statue of the Republic, erected to honor the centennial of Illinois’ statehood.

Read Our Land Acknowledgement

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