Chicago and the rest of the world are poised to visit the country’s newest and most innovative presidential library. The Obama Presidential Center stands on 19.3 acres within Jackson Park on the South Side of the city, ready to welcome visitors and tell the riveting political and personal story of Barack and Michelle Obama. I visited the campus during a media preview. The center contains an impressive array of public spaces, including plazas, gardens, an athletic center and a sky room. Here is what you can view and experience for free, without tickets.
Photo courtesy of The Obama Foundation
The Sky Room
Probably the most notable structure besides the museum, the Sky Room sits atop the 8th floor of the museum and offers panoramic views of the South Side, Jackson Park, the iconic downtown skyline and Lake Michigan. Strolling through the room supplies a sense of wonder at the beauty of Chicago and the power of its people to nurture the country’s first Black president.
The windows of the Sky Room are wrapped in words from President Obama’s 2015 speech to commemorate the Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights marches. The ceiling is covered with an evocative, sapphire blue installation by Idris Khan called “Sky of Hope,” made from hand-stamped words from the same speech. Admission to the Sky Room is free and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis each day.
Photo courtesy of the Obama Foundation
The Forum and Atrium
Head to the ground floor of the museum to access The Forum building. This two-level community space hosts free programs, events, talks and concerts and dance performances in the Elie Weisel auditorium. Check out the schedule to view upcoming events. The Forum also houses a gift shop with lots of swag accented with Obama Center Hope and Change logos.
Relax in the sunny Hadiya Pendelton Atrium and people watch or grab a snack at the cafe or a full meal at Tafari’s Kitchen restaurant. The Democracy in Action Lab is a series of classrooms for training in social responsibility and leadership.
Obama Center Public Library
Even if you’re not much of a reader, the new Obama Center Public Library demands a visit. The first-ever public library to be a part of a presidential center, the main room is encircled by a colorful 70-foot mural, “Reading Circles,/Weaving Dreams/Seeding Futures” by Aliza Nisenbaum. It features legendary author Toni Morrison reading to a boy in an orange shirt, which represents young Barack Obama.
Explore the President’s Reading Room, which holds 3,000 books selected by the Obamas. The YOUmedia creative space offers a recording studio and video and editing equipment. The City Maker Space offers creative and tech workshops to the public. Soak up the sun on the library’s rooftop, Eleanor Roosevelt Garden or opt to learn about gardening and how to grow and prepare fruits and vegetables in the Garden & Teaching Kitchen.
Check out the schedule for free Garden Gatherings that supply music, food and activities every other week through September.
Home Court Athletic Center
Stretching 60,000 feet and adorned with a vibrant two-story mural, “Pass It Forward,” displaying basketball players and girls playing double dutch by local artist Dorian Symvain and Sam Kirk, the Home Court building boasts an NBA-regulation-sized basketball court as well as multipurpose rooms for meetings and events.
Outdoor Green Spaces
Nestled inside sprawling Jackson Park, the Obama Center provides lots of outdoor places to walk, play and relax. The most prominent is the expansive greenery of the Great Lawn, which spans 58.000 feet and is flanked by a lagoon. Enjoy picnics and fresh air games on the lawn or have a cookout. Stroll through the Women’s Garden and view plants and flowers or enjoy the cascading stone water sculpture in the Ann Dunham Water Terrace.
Step through paths and shrubbery in the Wetland Walk or take a run or bike ride through The Promenade, while absorbing views of the lagoon and nearby Wooded Island. Rest on a bench or at a table in John Lewis Plaza, in the heart of the campus and take in all the activity.
Free Museum Tickets for Illinois Residents
Every Tuesday, the Obama Center Museum releases free tickets for Illinois residents. You have to reserve tickets in advance and these popular free admission tickets sell out months beforehand, so make reservations here when open dates are available. Search for winter dates for the best availability.
Photo courtesy of The Obama Foundation.
Obama Center Free Spaces
6001 S. Stoney Island
Outdoor spaces open daily, 6 am-9 pm
Free
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