Museum & Collection

Scheduled to open in 2026, the Obama Presidential Museum will tell the story of President and Mrs. Obama and their historic presidency—and how we can all do our part to create change.

An aerial view of the Obama Presidential Center. People are seen on the lawn in the distance.

Architecture

The architecture of the Museum building echoes movement upward from the grassroots. Its form is inspired by the idea of four hands coming together, a recognition that many hands shape a place. Like these hands, each facade of the four-sided building will be a little different from the next, providing a unique but engaging view from each angle.

The exterior of the Museum building will feature words taken from President Obama’s speech marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches, and will be cast into the structure in such a way that visitors will be able to look out through the words onto the South and West sides of Chicago.

The building will serve as a historic landmark in Jackson Park, welcoming visitors to the South Side and the rest of the Center’s campus.

"You are America" is shown in the design of how it will appear on the Obama Presidential Center Museum Building, and it glows.

A rendering of the remarks President Obama delivered in 2015 on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a historic civil rights protest, that will be carved into stone along the exterior of the Museum Building.

The image is an aerial image of a conceptual rendering of the Museum tower. In the center of the image is the museum structure: it is a tall beige building. On the roof of the building is grass. On the side of the building are the words from President Obama’s speech on the 50th Anniversary of the March from Selma to Montgomery. Surrounding the building is an aerial of the grassy areas of Jackson Park.

Aerial image of the exterior of the Obama Presidential Museum featuring a portion of President Barack Obama’s speech on the 50th Anniversary of the March from Selma to Montgomery.

A graphic depiction of people standing in a large room looking at large panels covered with extra large photos.

Exhibitions and Galleries

Dynamic Museum exhibits across four floors will highlight the events, policies, challenges, and accomplishments of the Obama Presidency. Rooted in the larger, complex discussion about democracy and the role of our nation's government since its founding, exhibitions will highlight the historical predecessors who made President and Mrs. Obama's stories possible and inspire visitors to push for change within their own communities.

Sky Room

On the top floor of the Museum Building, the Sky Room will offer visitors a space to reflect, with sweeping views of Lake Michigan to the East, the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago to the North, and the South Side of Chicago to the West and South. The Sky Room will be free and open to the public.

A graphic depiction of a large room with wood floors and high, slanted ceiling. People stand and sit looking out windows that run all around the room.
A graphic depiction of a large room with wood benches and large windows. People can be seen milling about.

Lower Level

On the Lower Level, visitors can gather and discuss their time on campus, enjoy a snack or drink in the cafe, or shop in the retail store. Visitors will be able to participate in experiences that will encourage them to think about how to engage with their own communities, or walk over to the nearby program rooms and media suite in the Forum building.

The Lower Level will also feature a retail shop and café, connect to the Forum and its public programming, and link to several outdoor courtyards designed for both social interaction and quiet contemplation.

A man with a light medium toned and a mix of white and grey hair, works on a wooden piece of art. His face is covered by a plastic face mask.
  • The Arts
  • Building the Center
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World-renowned sculptor and artist Richard Hunt was born and raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

Learn more
A photo of a magazine page that features a young Barack Obama and two others. The title of the page reads, "John Edgar Wideman" and "Street Corner Dreamers."

Share an artifact

The Obama Foundation is looking to hear from members of the broader Obama family—including longtime volunteers, friends, and staffers—who would like to offer artifacts for possible acquisition or loan consideration for the Obama Presidential Center Museum. These range from artifacts from the Obamas’ early lives and careers, to materials from the Presidential campaigns, administration, and beyond.

Find out how