Visiting the Barack Obama Presidential Center With Kids
- The Vega Family
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Earlier this month, we visited the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and honestly, it was much more than we expected.
We went thinking mostly about the museum and the history. But once we arrived, we realized the Center is really designed to be a place where families
can learn, spend time together, play, reflect, and come back again.
That was probably our biggest takeaway: every part of the Center feels intentional.
Some days, you may want to explore the museum and learn more about President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, the presidency, and the people and movements that shaped that chapter of American history.
Another day, you might bring the kids to the playground, walk around the grounds, visit the library, enjoy the outdoor spaces, or participate in activities at Home Court.
And sometimes, you may simply want to come back and recharge a little hope.
Watch Our Visit
We shared our full family experience on the Hola Life YouTube channel:
Inside Barack Obama’s Presidential Center 🇺🇸
Come along with us as we explore the Center, experience the exhibits, and see it through the eyes of our kids.
Where Is the Obama Presidential Center?
The Center is located in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side. Obama Presidential Center 6001 S. Stony Island Ave.Chicago, IL 60637
Official website: https://www.obama.org/
Plan your visit: https://www.obama.org/visit/
Tickets
You do not need a ticket to enjoy many of the outdoor spaces and public areas around the campus. A timed ticket is required to enter the Museum.
Museum tickets and current pricing can be found here:
Our advice: reserve your Museum tickets before planning the rest of your visit, especially on weekends or during busy travel periods.
Hours
The outdoor campus is generally open earlier and later than the Museum, while the Museum, Home Court, library, and other buildings have their own schedules. Because hours can change for events and holidays, we recommend checking the official website before leaving: https://www.obama.org/visit/
What We Loved Most
For us, the Center works because it does not feel like a place created only to look backward. Yes, there is history. There are important moments, stories, artifacts, and opportunities to better understand the Obama presidency. But there is also this feeling that the story is not finished. The Museum encourages conversations about democracy, leadership, community, service, and the role ordinary people can play in creating change. And visiting with our kids made that even more meaningful. They may not understand every historical detail today, but they are seeing these places, asking questions, and beginning to understand that history is something real people help create.
Don't Miss the Rest of the Campus
One of our favorite things about the Obama Presidential Cent
er is everything outside the traditional museum experience. There are outdoor spaces, gardens, a playground, a Chicago Public Library branch, public art, and Home Court, a large sports and community space. That makes the Center especially good for families. You can spend time learning inside the Museum and then let the kids move, explore, and enjoy the rest of the campus. It also makes this somewhere we would visit again without necessarily doing the exact same experience.
Tips
Give yourself time. This is not a place we would rush through. Reserve your Museum tickets in advance. Wear comfortable shoes because you will probably spend a lot of time walking.
With kids, mix the Museum with the outdoor spaces instead of trying to do everything inside at once. And most importantly, let the conversations happen naturally. Sometimes the best part of family travel is not what we planned to teach our kids. It is the questions they ask along the way.
Is It Worth Visiting?
For us, absolutely. The Obama Presidential Center is part museum, part community space, part family destination, and part reminder that leadership, service, and hope are not ideas that belong only to the past. Whether you come for the history, the architecture, the family activities, or simply to experience one of Chicago’s newest destinations, we believe it is worth adding to your list. And for our family, it is definitely a place we would return to.
— ALV
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