Visiting With Students

Self-Guided Field Trips to the Obama Presidential Center The Obama Presidential Center is designed to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. The Center hosts self-guided field trips, open to K-12 educators and students, that invite them to engage with real-world case studies and explore how to bring change home. We cannot guarantee availability for drop-in visits.

Reservations

All dates for field trips until December 31, 2026 are full and registration is closed. To be notified when registration opens for 2027, please sign up for email updates.

What to Explore On a Self-Guided Field Trip

All educators who register their self-guided field trip in advance will receive supporting resources that share more about the Museum and campus.

People walk by the “Yes We Can” exhibit inside the Museum Building. The exhibit is a large circular structure with words that say “Yes We Can” in wooden letters. An exhibit screen is in the background.

The Obama Presidential Museum

The Obama Presidential Center Museum includes four floors of exhibits that highlight the events, policies, challenges, and accomplishments of the Obama Presidency, and the movements that shaped President and Mrs. Obama before their time in the White House. Exhibitions will highlight the historical predecessors who made President and Mrs. Obama’s stories possible and inspire educators and students to be changemakers in their communities. Highlights include a Democracy 101 exhibit and a life-size replica of President Obama’s Oval Office.

Museum exhibits generally range in reading level from 8th grade - 11th grade, but include exhibits and artifacts for all ages. We recommend reserving 1.5 hours to explore the Museum and Sky Room with students. For supporting resources with suggested age-appropriate highlights, register your self-guided field trip below.

The Obama Presidential Center Museum is a paid, ticketed experience. All schools in Illinois are eligible for free Museum tickets. Free Museum tickets are based on availability.

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Home Court

Home Court features a regulation-size NBA basketball court and multipurpose spaces. On the days Home Court is open, self-guided field trips are welcome to see the lobby to familiarize students with the space between noon - 8 p.m.

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The Campus

The Center’s campus is located in historic Jackson Park and includes the welcoming John Lewis Plaza, the Wetland Walk, Women’s Garden, Great Lawn, and Playground, which are open daily from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily. The Campus is free and open to the public.

As you explore The Campus, you may come across one of our 28 commissioned art installations that encourage visitors to open their imaginations and reflect on their ability to bring change home. Nearly all of the pieces are in areas that are free to the public during operating hours.

It is also home to the Forum, which includes collaborative and creative spaces, including the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium, the Elie Wiesel Auditorium, and a Media Suite. The Forum is open Mondays from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Tuesday-Sundays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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Reserving Your Self-Guided Field Trips

All dates for field trips until 12/31/26 are full and registration is closed. To be notified when registration for field trips becomes available for 2027, please sign up to receive our newsletter .

All self-guided field trips follow a 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. itinerary, and are invited to the Museum Tuesdays - Fridays. Visits must be facilitated by an educator employed by a school or a home school educator. All self-guided field trips must include at least one chaperone per 10 students for students in grades 7-12, and one chaperone per 5 students for students in grades Kindergarten-6. There are no bus reimbursements at this time for self-guided field trips.

We work to accommodate students’ needs and make this experience accessible to all. You can visit our accessibility FAQ page here . There will be opportunities to share requests for accommodations in the registration form and to provide feedback after your visit.

Get Notified

Stay updated on when registration for field trips becomes available for 2027.

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Civics and Democracy Education

The Obama Foundation’s Civics and Democracy Education programs support students and educators, cultivating engaged, knowledgeable, and values-based citizens.

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