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Visiting With Students

The Obama Presidential Center is designed to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. The Center hosts self-guided school visits, open to K-12 students and educators, that invite them to engage with real-world case studies and explore how to bring change home. We cannot guarantee availability for drop-in visits; stay updated through our newsletter to know when reservations go live!
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What to Explore

All educators will receive state and national standards-aligned supporting resources that share more about the Museum and campus upon confirmation of their visit.

The Obama Presidential Museum

The Obama Presidential Museum includes four floors of exhibits that highlight the events, policies, challenges, and accomplishments of the Obama Presidency. Exhibitions will highlight the historical predecessors who made President and Mrs. Obama’s stories possible and inspire educators and students to be changemakers in their communities. Highlights include a Democracy 101 exhibit and a life-size replica of President Obama’s Oval Office. 

Museum exhibits generally range in reading level from 8th grade - 11th grade, but include exhibits and artifacts for all ages. 

The Obama Presidential Museum is a paid ticketed experience. All schools in Illinois are eligible for free tickets to the Museum exhibitions. Free Museum tickets are based on availability.

Museum hours for self-guided school visits are Mondays from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., and Tuesday - Fridays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

An image of Main Court, the basketball court located in Home Court. The image features the wood net-themed basketball backboard, the basketball net, and the basketball court floor.
Home Court

Home Court features a regulation-size NBA basketball court and multipurpose spaces. On the days Home Court is open, self-guided school visits are welcomed to see the lobby to familiarize students with the space between 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

On a bright day, the Obama Presidential Center campus is seen facing south in Chicago in September 2025. The Columbia Basin, Wooded Island, Jackson Park Lagoon Loop is in the foreground and the Obama Presidential Center is in the background. (Credit: Angie McMongial)
The Campus

The Center’s campus is located in historic Jackson Park and includes the welcoming John Lewis Plaza, the Wetland Walk, Women’s Garden, Great Lawn, and playground, which are open daily from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily. The Campus is free and open to the public. 

As you explore The Campus, you may come across one of our over 25 commissioned art installations that encourage visitors to open their imaginations and reflect on their ability to bring change home. Nearly all of the pieces are outside or in areas that are free to the public during operating hours. 

It is also home to the Forum, which includes collaborative and creative spaces, including the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium, the Elie Wiesel Auditorium, and a Media Suite. The Forum is open daily from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Reserving Your Self-Guided School Visits

A self-guided school visit must be facilitated by an educator or home school educator. All self-guided school visits must include at least 1 chaperone per 10 students. There are no bus reimbursements at this time for self-guided school visits. The reservation process for visits will open in Spring 2026. Sign up to be the first to know when our reservations are live.
By providing a phone number, you confirm that you are 14+ years old and consent to receive occasional, relevant SMS messages from the Barack Obama Foundation at the phone number you provided with your registration. To learn more about how the Foundation would use your information, read the Foundation’s Privacy Statement. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. You may opt to stop receiving SMS messages by texting “STOP” to (773) 915-0096 (Opens in a new tab).

Additional questions can be directed to education@obama.org (Opens in a new tab) . Please allow 1 business week for reply. 

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Civics and Democracy Education

The Obama Foundation’s Civics and Democracy Education programs support students and educators, cultivating engaged, knowledgeable, and values-based citizens.

Learn more