If you’re visiting the Obama Presidential Center, give yourself time before you ever step inside.
We arrived early to walk the grounds, see the outdoor commissions, visit the public library, spend time in the Presidential Library, and sit quietly in the Forum. The campus includes twenty-nine commissioned works of art, with sculptures and installations woven throughout the landscape and additional works inside the buildings.
When we entered the museum, we stepped into the lower-level atrium just as U2’s Beautiful Day began to play. I immediately thought of my children when they were little. We used to turn that song up as loud as possible, hold hands, and dance in a circle around the living room. At the time, the song felt aspirational because life wasn’t particularly beautiful for our family. Standing there all these years later, I realized how very beautiful our lives have become.
Just beyond the atrium is Mark Bradford’s extraordinary commission. It is among the most moving works in the building.
As we wandered through the campus, I found myself noticing something beyond the architecture and the art. People smiled at one another. They held doors open. They stopped to help visitors find their way. There was a generosity of spirit that felt woven into the experience.
Then we came upon Jack Pierson’s HOPE, one of the first artworks many visitors will encounter. Its message landed differently after spending the morning surrounded by so many small acts of kindness.
I left thinking that the Obama Presidential Center offers much more than a museum visit. It is a place where art, architecture, public space, and community come together to imagine the kind of world we might build together.
The Obama Presidential Center is located at 6001 S. Stony Island Avenue in Chicago. The campus grounds are open daily from 6 a.m.–9 p.m. The Museum and Forum are open Monday from 1–8 p.m. and Tuesday–Sunday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Museum admission is by timed ticket, and advance reservations are recommended.
Tickets and visitor information: Obama Presidential Center
