The Obama Foundation announced on March 7 that the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) will open to the public on June 19 on Chicago’s South Side, with dedication ceremonies and public celebrations running June 18–21.
The campus – the majority of which is free to visitors – will host live performances, family activities, food, art, and storytelling across the four-day opening weekend. A formal dedication is scheduled for June 18, ahead of the public opening the following day.
“This is not a monument to the past; it is a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo,” former President Barack Obama said in a video announcement posted to social media.
The announcement was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights marches. Words from Obama’s address at the marches’ 50th commemoration – “You Are America” – are inscribed on the Museum building’s exterior.
Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett called the center “a beacon of hope to the world” and said it is designed to inspire visitors to drive change in their own communities.
The OPC is located in Jackson Park and has been under development for several years amid legal and logistical delays. Advance gatherings for alumni, community members, and supporters will precede the public events.
