Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago, draws 175,000 in first 100 days
The gist
The Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago in June 2026 and drew 175,000 visitors in its first 100 days.
The $850 million campus pairs a ticketed museum with free public space and a library branch.
How it unfolded
- Jun 30, 2016The Obama Foundation announced it had selected Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners to lead the design team.
- Jul 27, 2016Reports said Barack and Michelle Obama had chosen Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side over Washington Park as the site.
- Jan 29, 2018New renderings were released; the museum tower rose from 178 to 235 feet and an above-ground parking facility was replaced by an on-site underground garage.
Key terms
- Juneteenth
- A U.S. federal holiday on June 19 commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
- Division III
- The lowest division of the NCAA, made up of college athletic programs that do not offer athletic scholarships.
Source: Wikipedia