Frequently Asked Questions

The Obama Presidential Center is designed to be a vibrant space for the community to gather. Our outdoor areas — including the Playground, Women’s Garden, and Promenade — are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Our building hours are as follows:

• Museum, Forum, and Campus Shop
  Monday, 1 – 8 p.m. | Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

• Restaurant
  Monday 1 – 8 p.m. | Tuesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

• Cafe
  Monday 1 – 5 p.m. | Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

• Home Court
  Open Daily: 12 – 8 p.m.

• Public Library:  
  Mon & Wed: 12 – 8 p.m.
  Tue & Thu: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  Fri & Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m.

All buildings will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Most of the campus is free and open to the public. Visitors can explore art installations, gardens (Women’s Garden, Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden, John Lewis Plaza), nature walks, a playground, and a Chicago Public Library branch. Dining options include a cafe, restaurant, and picnic areas. 

Various programs, tours, and events occur throughout the year; some require separate registration or tickets.

The Obama Presidential Center is a place for the next generation to explore and grow. To ensure a safe experience, children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult while on campus. Museum guests under 18 also require an adult chaperone and their own ticket. Museum admission is free for children ages 2 and under.

Strollers are welcome throughout the campus, though we kindly ask that you use elevators rather than escalators. Please note that wagons and double-wide strollers are not permitted. 

You are welcome to bring your own wheelchair or mobility aid. We also offer a limited number of wheelchairs on the ground floors of the Museum and the Forum. You are welcome to borrow one during your visit to the Museum, however these wheelchairs are first-come, first-serve. We recommend that you check in at Coat Check in the lobby of the Museum to see if we have any available. Prior to your arrival, you can also call us the day of your visit to see if we currently have any available. 

A limited number of lockers for luggage are available at the Museum Coat Check on a first-come, first-served basis.

Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome at our designated outdoor areas. Inside our buildings, all items must be kept in sealed containers and are not permitted in the Museum galleries or Library. Alcoholic beverages must be purchased and consumed within our Cafe or at Tafari’s Restaurant.

We welcome you and your pets to enjoy our outdoor parks and gardens. Please keep dogs leashed. For the safety and comfort of all guests, only service animals are permitted inside Center buildings.

To ensure a safe environment for all, please review our Visitor Policy for a full list of prohibited items.

If you misplace an item, please find any staff member or visit the information desk in the Museum lobby for assistance.

Guests are welcome to breastfeed or nurse anywhere on campus. However if you are looking for private accommodations, the campus has Wellness Rooms located on both Lower Levels of the Museum and Home Court. 

Campus Family Restrooms are located on the Lower Levels of the Museum Building and Home Court.  Both Family Restrooms include Adult Changing Tables. 

We welcome anyone who is interested in volunteering! Our volunteer opportunities are on a rolling basis. Please visit our volunteer page to learn about upcoming availability on campus. 

There are dozens of exciting options to explore during your visit to the South Side! Take a look at Our Neighborhood to check out restaurants, activities, and other events happening near the campus. 

The campus itself is free; only Museum entry requires paid timed-entry tickets. Museum tickets are released for future dates on a periodic basis. . With a high level of interest in the Museum,  online advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets may not be available on-site.

Museum entry requires a paid, timed-entry ticket. To ensure broad access, we offer several discount ticket options and free admission for Illinois residents every Tuesday. The majority of our campus—including the Playground, Public Library, and outdoor parks—is free and open daily, keeping the Center a welcoming space for all.

To provide a comfortable experience for all guests, Museum tickets are issued for specific time slots. Please arrive during your designated time frame to guarantee entry.

To give you ample time to explore, final entry is at 7 p.m. on Mondays, and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

General Admission to the Museum offers access to four floors of dynamic exhibits—including the replica of the Oval Office on Level 4 —and the Sky Room on Level 8, which offers panoramic views of the city and the lake. 

We also offer daily guided tours and seasonal programming across our core pillars: arts and culture; food and community; sports and wellbeing; and civics, democracy and leadership. Select programs and events may require separate ticketing.

To reserve a ticket to the Museum, you may buy your ticket online or purchase your ticket in-person at the front desk of the Museum (subject to availability). We recommend purchasing your tickets online. On-site tickets are not guaranteed and may be unavailable during peak times.

Museum General Admission prices align with other Chicago museums and include everyday discounts for educators, active-duty military, veterans, Chicago first responders, and more. Every Tuesday, admission is free to Illinois residents. 

A variety of programs, tours, and events will be available across campus throughout the year. Some programs and events may require separate registration or tickets. 

Absolutely—we welcome the next generation of changemakers! Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and require their own ticket. Admission is free for children ages 2 and under.

Personal, non-flash photography is welcome in most areas unless otherwise noted. To protect our exhibits and ensure a comfortable visit for all guests, flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are prohibited indoors. Commercial photography and drones are not permitted anywhere on campus.

We are proud to call Chicago’s South Side home. The Center is located in historic Jackson Park at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. Home Court, our athletic and programs facility, is located at the south end of the park at 6121 S. Stony Island Ave. Learn about getting to the Center.

Yes, the campus is easily accessible by Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses and Metra trains. You can find detailed routes on our Getting to the Center page.

Yes, paid parking is available on campus. The garage entrance is located off Stony Island Ave. between the Forum building and Home Court (6121 S. Stony Island Ave.). 

• The garage has limited capacity. 

  • Daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. 

• The Garage is ticketless. Cash is not accepted and a smartphone is required. Please look for signage inside for instructions to pay by phone. All parkers must pay to exit.

• For parking assistance, please call (856) 485-9703.

  • Parking Rates
    0 - 4 Hours……………………………………………………$22
    
    4 Hours to close …………………………………$34
    
    Evening Special ………………………………………$15
    (In After 5pm)
    
    Special Events ………………………………………$50+
    
    Parking rates are subject to change.

• The Obama Presidential Center has 9 EV charging stations that are available on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Learn about getting to the Center.

Complimentary wheelchairs are available on the ground floor of the Museum and the Forum on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend inquiring about availability upon your arrival at the lobbies of both buildings.

Yes, accessible parking is available in our on-campus parking garage at standard parking rates.

We offer assistive-listening devices, hearing loops, and closed captioning throughout the campus. Explore Accessibility Guide for full details.

Braille signage and tactile stations are integrated across our spaces. Explore our Accessibility Guide for full details.

Wellness Rooms are located on the Lower Levels of the Museum and Home Court. As you prepare for your visit, you may also wish to review our Sensory Guides to help you identify quieter, less crowded spaces in advance. See Accessibility Guide for details.

Service dogs and miniature horses are welcome across the campus. To ensure the safety of all guests, animals must be harnessed or leashed. For more information, please refer to our Accessibility Guide .

Tickets to the Obama Presidential Center Museum are for personal use and may not be resold or transferred through third-party vendors such as Facebook Marketplace. 

We recommend purchasing your tickets to the Museum and other campus programs in advance to secure your preferred date and time as tickets sell out. You may do so online or in person at the registration desks located in the Forum or Home Court. 

Museum tickets will initially be available for visits between June 19 and November 30, 2026. Tickets for events are open on a periodic basis. To stay informed about future ticket releases, please join our newsletter.  

Yes. To ensure broad access to our exhibits, we offer several discount ticket options , as well as free admission for Illinois residents every Tuesday. 

All guests are able to easily manage their reservation by heading to their confirmation email and selecting “Manage My Tickets.” From there, ticket holders will be able to modify your visit date and choose a new time, subject to availability.

Tickets to the Museum and campus events are non-refundable. You may explore rescheduling or exchange options using the "Manage My Tickets” link in your confirmation email. 

All guests require a ticket to enter the Museum, however children 2 and under will receive a free ticket. Ticket buyers may reserve free tickets for children under 3 during checkout. 

You may add a ticket to your visit to the Museum pending availability. Please visit our ticketing admissions (Opens in a new tab) to see if tickets are available for your respective visit. 

If you are interested in donating your ticket, please email us at tickets@obama.org (Opens in a new tab) for more information. 

Groups of 10 or more can use our personalized booking service for Museum admission and enjoy streamlined entry. While the broader campus is always free to explore, our specialized booking applies specifically to the Museum. Learn more about group visits. We do not accept reservations for our outdoor spaces, such as our Picnic area.  

We are delighted to welcome K-12 students and educators for self-guided visits at the Obama Presidential Center. All Illinois K-12 schools are eligible for free tickets, subject to  availability. Learn more about visiting with students . 

School visits launch in fall 2026. Contact education@obama.org (Opens in a new tab) for immediate inquiries.