The Obama Presidential Center Is Open: See the Most Meaningful Spaces of the Obamas' Library and Museum
The Obama Presidential Center Is Open: See the Most Meaningful Spaces of the Obamas' Library and Museum
Kyler AlvordFri, June 19, 2026 at 3:35 PM UTC
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The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's South Side ahead of its Summer 2026 grand openingCredit: The Obama Foundation
The long-awaited Obama Presidential Center (OPC) has finally opened nearly a decade after President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama left the White House, adding a massive new public gathering space to Chicago's South Side.
The former first couple broke ground on the 19.3-acre campus back in 2021, selecting the South Side for President Obama's official presidential library and museum because of its significance in their upbringing and political rise. "We want this center to be more than a static museum or a source of archival research," President Obama said at the groundbreaking. "It won't just be a collection of campaign memorabilia or Michelle's ball gowns, although I know everybody will come see those. It won't just be an exercise in nostalgia or looking backwards. We want to look forward."
Five years later, the OPC is welcoming members of the public as a massive community hub, centered around an architecturally distinct tower designed to resemble four hands coming together. The countless interactive areas on campus include homages to legendary politicians and activists that inspire the Obamas, plus a wealth of original art, free activities, and mementos from the Obamas' historic two terms in the People's House.
Related: Malia and Sasha Obama Make Rare Public Appearance to Support Parents at Obama Center Opening
In a speech at the OPC grand opening ceremony on Thursday, June 18, the former first lady said she hopes the campus can serve as a "respite" when the world feels "upside down," saying, "We want you to come here and put away your phones, and talk and laugh and cry — because you gonna cry — and make new friends."
"Get your hands dirty in my garden. Push your baby on a swing in the playground. Have a romantic picnic on the Great Lawn," she added. "Because that's the work of democracy too: being neighborly, taking care of public spaces, having some fun, enjoying each other, shaking out of the isolation and division that have crept too deeply into our lives."
Below, a photo tour of some of the most notable features at the newest presidential center.
01 of 21
The Obamas' Portrait in the Hope and Change Lobby
A portrait of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the Obama Presidential Center in ChicagoCredit: The Obama Foundation
The Hope and Change Lobby at the OPC nods to President Obama's iconic 2008 and 2012 campaign slogans and features a range of art, including the massive 9'x10' portrait of the former president and first lady.
The Obamas: Springing Forth, 2026 by Nigerian artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby was unveiled just before the grand opening ceremony, and incorporates several small images from the Obamas' past as well as personal touches, like Michelle Obama's South Side childhood home in the background and the MLK Jr. bust that President Obama kept in his Oval Office. See the gripping portrait up close here.
02 of 21
The Home Court
The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center in ChicagoCredit: The Obama Foundation
Americans remember when President Obama temporarily transformed the White House tennis area into a basketball court during his time in office, and now Chicagoans can enjoy his favorite sport at the OPC. The Home Court is touted as "the largest convening area" on campus, with an NBA regulation-size basketball court and side rooms that can be rented for athletic events, weddings and other private gatherings.
The entrance to the Home Court is named the Eunice Shriver Kennedy Lobby, after JFK's sister who advocated for people with disabilities and founded the Special Olympics.
Related: Meet Eunice Kennedy Shriver's Grandkids, Who Are on a Mission to Carry Her Special Olympics Torch
03 of 21
The Chicago Public Library
The President's Reading Room in the Chicago Public Library at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
The OPC campus includes a new branch of the Chicago Public Library with additional amenities unique to that location. Aside from the main reading area and interactive creative spaces, there's the President's Reading Room — a boardroom-style area featuring a curated collection of books that reflect Barack and Michelle Obama's interests and include some of their favorite works.
Outside the library is the Rachel Carson Courtyard, named after the famous conservationist who wrote Silent Spring, where you can find one of Chicagoan Richard Hunt's final sculptures, titled Book Bird.
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The Museum
President Barack Obama walks through the Obama Presidential Center Museum in ChicagoCredit: The Obama Foundation
The Obama Presidential Center Museum, inside the tower, is the only area of the OPC campus that costs money to experience, though Illinois residents can get in for free on Tuesdays. Filled with background on the moments in American history that made way for the Obamas' historic rise, it's an immersive and art-filled space. Pictured above in April 2026, President Obama toured the completed exhibits.
05 of 21
Michelle's Dresses
A collection of Michelle Obama's dresses in the Celebrating Fashion and Design display at the Obama Presidential Center MuseumCredit: The Obama Foundation
President Obama previously said that the OPC wouldn't "just" be a collection of his wife's gowns, but that doesn't mean her fashion got overlooked in the planning process. The former first lady, who released a book in 2025 about the significance of her White House style choices, put some of her most memorable looks on display in the new museum for visitors to see up close.
Related: Michelle Obama Reflects on the Message Behind Her White House Style in New Series: 'I Had to Be Very Intentional' (Exclusive)
06 of 21
The Obama Oval Office Replica
The Oval Office experience at the Obama Presidential Center MuseumCredit: The Obama Foundation
The Oval Office gets a makeover with each new commander-in-chief, and President Obama's White House workspace has been replicated for the OPC Museum, featuring the crimson red curtains and striped beige wallpaper that became the backdrop for some of his most significant moments in office.
07 of 21
Tafari's Kitchen
Tafari's Kitchen at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
Tafari Campbell, the White House sous chef who died of accidental drowning while paddle boarding near the Obamas' Martha's Vineyard home in 2023, is memorialized at the OPC with Tafari's Kitchen, the restaurant on campus. At the time of Campbell's death, President Obama wrote that he'd miss Campbell "every day" and said, "He believed that actions speak louder than words. And he used his immense gifts to bring people together, provide comfort, and spread joy."
Related: Barack Obama Remembers Late Chef Tafari Campbell: 'I'll Miss Him Every Day'
08 of 21
Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden
The Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
The fruit and vegetable garden at the OPC continues the efforts that Michelle Obama began when she planted her Kitchen Garden on the White House South Lawn in 2009 to promote healthy eating. It's named after game-changing former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who also planted a White House garden after World War II to encourage Americans to grow their own food.
Before subsequent first ladies picked up the torch, Eleanor stood out as a fierce defender of women's and human rights who played an important role in her husband's legacy.
09 of 21
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'Uprising of the Sun' Stained Glass
"Uprising of the Sun" by Julie Mehretu at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
A multiple-stories-tall panel of stained glass is visible on the north side of the OPC tower facade — and inside the building, guests get an up-close look at the window while riding one of the escalators. Uprising of the Sunby Ethiopian American artist Julie Mehretu is 83 feet tall and 25 feet wide, and marked her first time working with glass, according to the Obama Foundation. It was inspired by President Obama's speech at the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches, and Mehretu said she aimed to "create a window that fits into the idea of thinking through layers, places and histories."
Related: Jennifer Hudson's Voice Brings Michelle Obama to Tears at Obama Center Grand Opening
10 of 21
Elie Wiesel Auditorium
The Elie Wiesel Auditorium at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
The lecture hall and indoor concert space in the OPC's Forum building was named after Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor whose activism and storytelling inspired President Obama to speak out against oppression. "His legacy lives on here as a space for people to tell their stories, learn from each other, and find solutions to build a more just society," the Obama Foundation explains on its website.
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The Sky Room
The Sky Room vista at the Obama Presidential Center MuseumCredit: The Obama Foundation
The Sky Room in the OPC Museum includes an overlook of the campus through the stone words on the obelisk's exterior. The coned ceiling features artwork by Idris Khan titled Sky of Hope, a collection of countless blue words that look like brush strokes from a distance.
12 of 21
The Great Lawn
The Great Lawn at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
The Great Lawn is a public picnic and recreation area that can double as an event space on campus, sitting just over the hill from the main tower and surrounded by a walking and biking trail.
13 of 21
The Playground
The playground at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
The public park at the OPC includes a massive nature-themed playground with ADA accessible swings, a duck slide, a mud kitchen garden and sensory nooks.
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Picnic Tables and Barbecues
The picnic area at The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Ill.Credit: The Obama Foundation
During park days at the OPC, guests can utilize the campus's picnic tables and public barbecues.
15 of 21
The Ann Dunham Water Terrace
"Seeing Through the Universe" by Maya Lin in the Ann Dunham Water Terrace at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
On his 61st birthday, President Obama announced that he planned to honor his late mother, Ann Dunham, at his presidential center with a water garden named in her honor. The serene pools feature a sculpture titled Seeing Through the Universe by Maya Lin.
Dunham was a single mother who, along with her parents, played a significant role in shaping the future president. At the grand opening ceremony of the OPC, Michelle Obama brought her husband to tears with an emotional speech, during which she said, "Your mother, Toot, Gramps — you are a tribute to their love. They are up there grinning and hugging today because you never forgot who you are and where you came from."
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The Media Suite
A student takes part in an After School Matters event in the Media Suite of the Obama Presidential Center on June 1, 2026Credit: The Obama Foundation
OPC program participants can reserve space in the Media Suite, a modern recording facility on campus, to tape podcasts, edit videos and make music.
17 of 21
'City of the Big Shoulders'
"City of the Big Shoulders" by Mark Bradford at the Obama Presidential Center MuseumCredit: The Obama Foundation
Another notable work on campus is City of the Big Shoulders by Mark Bradford, framing the 3-story west wall of the Our Story Atrium in the OPC Museum. The painting is an abstract map of Chicago titled after one of the city's many nicknames that originated in a Carl Sandburg poem.
President Obama spoke at the grand opening ceremony about how he always wanted to make a difference, but didn't know how to achieve that until he moved to Chicago and felt inspired by his new neighbors. "It was here, in this city — the city of broad shoulders — that I found what I was looking for," he said. "I found my purpose here and I fortified my faith here and I found my community here."
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Wetland Walk
The Wetland Walk at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
A landscaped stone path with additional bench seating is touted as an eco-friendly oasis amid the other outdoor features of the campus.
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'Torch Song'
"Torch Song" by Alison Saar in the Women's Garden at The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Ill.Credit: The Obama Foundation
Torch Song by Alison Saar was inspired by the Statue of Liberty but given a more Chicago flair by embodying the spirit of the city's blues heritage. Saar envisioned the singing bronze statue — situated in the Women's Garden — as a symbol of resistance and speaking truth, according to the Obama Foundation.
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The Women's Garden
The Women's Garden at the Obama Presidential CenterCredit: The Obama Foundation
The Women's Garden is another impressive green space on the opposite side of the obelisk as the Great Lawn that honors the Suffrage Movement. Its sustainable landscaping and additional walkways are situated beside the lagoon that runs through Jackson Park.
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The Selma Speech
The Obama Presidential Center towerCredit: The Obama Foundation
The most captivating part of the OPC obelisk is the script in the top corner of the tower — an excerpt from President Obama's famous 2015 speech for the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches.
In full, the building reads:
""You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word 'We.' 'We The People.' 'We Shall Overcome.' 'Yes We Can.' That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.""
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
