The Center Frequently Asked Questions

The Obama Presidential Center campus has different operating hours for different buildings. Outdoor areas including the Playground, the Women’s Garden, and the Promenade will follow Chicago Park District hours and will be open from 6 a.m. - 11 p.m daily. 

Museum 

• Monday - 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. (Last entry 7 p.m.)

• Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  (Last entry 4 p.m.)

Restaurant

• Monday - 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.

• Tuesday - Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Forum 

• Monday - 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

• Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Cafe 

• Monday - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 

• Tuesday - Sunday - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Campus Shop

• Monday - 1 p.m. - 8 p.m.

• Tuesday - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Home Court

• Monday - Sunday 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Obama Presidential Center Library Branch

• Monday and Wednesday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

• Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

All Buildings at the Obama Presidential Center will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

We welcome our younger visitors to join us! We ask that any children under 14 visit the campus with an adult.  For the Museum, remember please that anyone under the age of 18 needs an adult and their own ticket. Museum tickets are free for children aged 0-2 years. Visit for more information.

Strollers are permitted in most areas, but avoid using them on escalators for safety. Please leave double wide strollers and all wagons at home as we cannot accept them at Coat Check or in the Museum Galleries. There is a limited storage space for luggage and other personal items or devices; space is available on a first come first serve basis at the complimentary Coat Check.  Please visit Visitor Policies for more information.

Food and drinks are allowed in designated campus areas but not in Museum galleries or the public library. If you bring food and beverage items, please store food and drinks in sealed containers when exploring the museum or library. Alcoholic beverages must be bought and consumed within the Café or Restaurant. 

Please see our Visitor Policy page for more information.

If you lose an item during your visit, please ask a staff member for assistance.

For the comfort and safety of all visitors, pets and emotional support animals are only permitted in outdoor campus spaces. Service animals are allowed to accompany visitors throughout the campus including indoor spaces. 

No, general admission to the Obama Presidential Center Museum requires a paid timed-entry ticket. Visitors, however, are welcome to come to the campus and explore dozens of free opportunities including the Playground, the Library, several outdoor spaces, and select programs. 

Yes, general admission tickets to the Museum are timed-entry only.  

The last ticket you may purchase for the Museum on Monday is 7 p.m. CT. The last ticket you can purchase for the Museum Tuesday - Sunday is 4 p.m. CT. 

Tickets for the Museum and events at the Center open early May 2026 . 

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, in advance of your visit.

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. 

Tickets for the Museum and events at the Center open early May 2026 .

Yes, children of all ages are welcome to the Museum! Anyone under the age of 18 needs an adult and their own ticket. Museum tickets are free for children aged 0-2 years. Visit for more information. 

Guests are welcome to take personal, non-flash, non-commercial photos unless otherwise noted. However, flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are not allowed indoors. Drones are not permitted anywhere on campus.

The Obama Presidential Center is located in Jackson Park at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center is located in Jackson Park at 6121 S. Stony Island Ave. Chicago, IL 60637. 

The Center is accessible through several public transportation options including the Chicago Transit Authority buses and Metra Rail. If you are trying to find the best route to campus, the Center provides several options from anywhere in Chicago. Please visit our Transportation Guide for specific directions.  

Yes, our campus has a paid parking garage for visitors. Entrance to the Garage is located off Stony Island Ave. between the Forum and Home Court. Please note, the garage has limited capacity. Please visit our Transportation Guide for specific information. 

Wheelchairs are available on the ground floor of the Museum and Forum, and may be borrowed for your campus visit. These wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend inquiring about availability upon your arrival at the Coat Checks located in the lobbies of both buildings.

Accessible parking is available in the campus parking garage and is subject to parking rates. 

The Obama Presidential Center campus offers a range of offerings for Deaf or hard of hearing visitors including assistive-listening devices and hearing loops. Head over to our Accessibility Guide to get the full rundown of accessibility options across campus. 

The Obama Presidential Center campus offers a range of offerings for blind or low vision visitors including braille signs and tactile stations. Head over to our Accessibility Guide to get the full rundown of accessibility options across campus. 

The Obama Presidential Center campus will have several options for those who are neurodivergent or sensory sensitive such as Wellness Rooms and a Sensory Guide. Head over to our Accessibility Guide to get the full rundown of accessibility options across campus. 

Service dogs and/or miniature horses are welcome in our buildings. Service animals must be harnessed at all times unless leashing interferes with the animals’ ability to work. Individuals must maintain control of the service animal at all times. For more information, refer to our Accessibility Guide .

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to participate. If you require disability accommodations to participate in an event — such as ASL interpretation, CART captioning, sensory supports or details of physical accessibility features, etc. — please reach out to us at hello@obama.org (Opens in a new tab) at least 2 weeks prior to the program, and we will do our best to try and accommodate.

Tickets for the Museum and events at the Center open on May 6, 2026. 

We recommend purchasing your tickets to the Museum 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. 

Select programs and events at the Obama Presidential Center are ticketed and may be reserved in advance online and in person. If available, tickets may be reserved for day-of events. Many events are free and open to all.

Tickets for the Museum will go on sale in early May for visit dates of June 19, 2026 through November 30, 2026. Sign up to be notified when tickets go on sale. Advanced purchase is highly encouraged. Ticket admissions for events on campus may vary depending on location and event. 

Yes, the Museum offers discounted tickets for Illinois Free Days, group trips of 10 or more, and designated communities including military members and Illinois educators. 

For individual tickets, discover our discounted ticket options. For groups of 10 or more, head over to Group Sales to learn about our offerings and to see if you qualify.

The Center considers “group” activities those that include 10 or more people. Ticketing for 9 people or less can be booked through our traditional ticketing options.

Group bookings are for Museum Exhibitions Galleries only and must go through our group sales team. Please visit our group visits to learn more about our offerings. We do not accept reservations for our outdoor spaces, such as our Picnic area. 

All K-12 schools in Illinois are eligible for free tickets to the Museum based on ticket availability. If you would like to book a tour for your class or school, please reach out to our Education Team for more details on our program. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, schools must book in advance.