Obama Presidential Center: History, community, hope in Chicago

If you travel to the Windy City this summer, one of the featured attractions will be the Obama Presidential Center. Nestled between the lakefront and the University of Chicago, the center sits on a 19.3-acre site in Chicago’s historic Jackson Park. The center, which took nearly five years to construct, is scheduled to be dedicated June 18, 2026, and will officially open to the public June 19, or Juneteenth. It is designed to serve as an anchor for surrounding South Side communities, inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to explore and connect.