The Obama Presidential Center, set to open on June 19, 2026, stands as a testament to the legacy of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. Located in Chicago’s South Side, this 19.3-acre campus is more than a museum; it’s a vibrant community hub designed to inspire and educate visitors from around the world.
The centerpiece of the campus is the 225-foot-tall museum tower, which houses a wealth of presidential artifacts, campaign memorabilia, and interactive exhibits. But the Obama Presidential Center is not just about the past; it’s also a space for the future, featuring a public library, basketball courts, gardens, and a playground.
The Numbers Behind the Center
The Obama Presidential Center is a monumental project in more ways than one. Here are some key figures that bring the scale and impact of the center into focus:
- $850 million: The approximate cost to build the museum tower and campus, funded entirely by private donations. This figure is more than double the initial estimates of $350 million.
- 600,000: The projected number of annual visitors to the admission-based museum. The free amenities on the campus are expected to attract up to 1 million visitors each year.
- 3,500: The number of book titles personally selected by the Obamas for the Presidential Reading Room in the new public library branch on campus.
- 440: The number of different campaign buttons on display from Obama’s campaigns, including state-specific designs.
- 28: The number of commissioned works of art from 30 different artists, showcasing a diverse range of styles and mediums.
- 1: The number of beehives on campus, part of the gardens and extensive landscaping.
Art and Exhibits
The Obama Presidential Center is not just a repository of historical artifacts; it’s also a gallery of inspiring art. The museum’s first exhibit greets visitors with the word hope, a nod to the guiding theme of Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Throughout the facility, numerous art installations tell the story of the Obamas and the nation, starting with the Declaration of Independence.
Visitors can explore floors of exhibits that detail Obama’s first presidential campaign, including the bruising primary election. There’s a whole section dedicated to campaign buttons and signs, both homemade and mass-produced. A documentary-style video with swelling music brings visitors back to the emotion of that time, the promise many felt with the election of America’s first Black president.
Notable Art Installations
The center features a variety of notable art installations, including:
- City of the Big Shoulders by Mark Bradford, a colorful multimedia piece that extends from the mezzanine to the first floor.
- This Land, Shared Sky by Nick Cave in collaboration with Marie Watt, a collaborative work that invites visitors to reflect on shared experiences.
- Layered glass artwork by Julie Mehretu, which visitors can glimpse while riding the escalators between floors.
Community and Legacy
The Obama Presidential Center is more than a landmark; it’s a new space of possibilities. The campus was designed with the community in mind, featuring a public library, basketball courts, gardens, and a playground. Visitors can explore artwork from local talent, grab a bite to eat from Chicago native Chef Cliff Rome, and get to know long-time Woodlawn residents in the John Lewis Plaza.
The center also features a timeline of President Obama’s accomplishments while in office, including the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Some of these accomplishments have since been reversed by subsequent administrations, but the center aims to inspire visitors to make change again.
Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, hopes that visitors will come away not just nostalgic for what was but motivated to make change, again. The Obama Presidential Center is a place where the past meets the future, and where hope and change continue to inspire.
