After nearly five years of construction, the Obama Presidential Center is set to open its facilities to the public this month. Unlike other presidential libraries, the OPC is operated by the Obama Foundation, not the National Archives and Records Administration. To honor the 44th president, here are 44 facts to know before booking a ticket.

General Info

1. Opens to the public on June 19
2. This date was chosen to honor Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating the freedom of enslaved people after the Civil War
3. Located in Jackson Park at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave.
4. Contains the campus, museum, Forum, public library and Home Court athletic center
5. Construction costs totaled $850 million from private fundraising by the Obama Foundation.
6. The city also contributed approximately $200 million in public funds toward infrastructure improvements.
7. Continued updates and donation opportunities are available through a mailing list on obama.org.

Tickets

1. The museum’s timed entry tickets are available online.
2. Tickets are $23 for children under 12 and $30 for adults.
3. With a verified zip code, Illinois residents can get discounted tickets at $15 for children and $26 for adults.
4. Illinois residents with a valid ID can also reserve free tickets on Tuesdays.
5. As of May 20, tickets are sold out until August, and Tuesday tickets are sold out until December
6. A comprehensive 90-minute tour, including museum admission, is available for $75 per person at tickets.obama.org but is sold out until September.

The Campus

1. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
2. Grounds span 19.3 acres, surrounding the OPC’s buildings
3. Unlike the museum, the campus is free to access without tickets.
4. Contains several public spaces such as the John Lewis Plaza, named after the civil rights activist and U.S. representative; the Women’s Garden, a tribute to the suffrage movement; the Nancy Pelosi Pavilion, named after the Speaker Emerita for the House of Representatives; a community vegetable garden; sledding hill and more
5. Builders converted Cornell Drive, a six-lane highway through Jackson Park, into part of the “walkable green space” connecting buildings.
6. Recognizing the Obamas’ longstanding commitment to the arts, the campus features over 28 commissioned artworks, most of which are outside or in areas accessible to the public for free during operating hours. 

The Museum

1. Open 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. other days
2. Tells the story of Barack and Michelle Obama’s lives before and during their presidency
3. It’s 225 feet tall with four floors of exhibits
4. Each floor features a different exhibit.
5. Exhibits include a replica of the Oval Office as it appeared during President Obama’s terms, campaign trail films, a sky room on the top floor, and more.
6. A famous quote from Mr. Obama’s 2015 “You are America” speech in Selma, Alabama, wraps around the exterior of the building.

The Forum

1. The Forum is a building beside the museum with multiple spaces inside, such as the Elie Wiesel Auditorium, named after the Romanian American writer who survived the Holocaust.
2. Shares the same hours as the OPC Museum
3. The Elie Wiesel Auditorium will host ticketed performances and programs. None have been announced, but further information is expected this summer
4. Holds both The Restaurant, a sit-down dining space by chef Cliff Rome, and The Cafe, offering snacks and drinks
5. Obama-themed merchandise, such as campaign posters, pins and clothing, can be purchased in the Forum or online.
6. Set to host a summer program in partnership with After School Matters for South Side teens centering sports and well-being

The Public Library

1. Like other Chicago Public Library branches, books will be free to access
2. Also features “Book Bird,” by Chicago native Richard Hunt, one of America’s most prolific sculptors
3. The sculpture will depict a bird flying from a book, representing the opportunities that can come from learning through reading.
4. Will also feature “President Obama’s Reading List,” summer recommendations of Mr. Obama’s favorite recent literature, as well as a similar list featuring music
5. The library was fully funded by a $5 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization which supports creative pursuits across the city.
6. Set to be the first walking-distance Chicago Public Library in this area, which straddles Hyde Park and Woodlawn, since the two nearest branches are over a mile away

Home Court athletic center

1. Open daily from 12-8 p.m.
2. Spans 60,000 square feet
3. Includes an NBA-sized basketball court
4. Also offers flexible event spaces available for rent
5. Inspired by Mr. Obama’s love of sports for their ability to build connections
6. The Obama Foundation cites the values of teamwork, resilience and leadership as key ways that they hope the space will foster community-building
7. During his first term, Mr. Obama also adapted a basketball court from an existing tennis court at the White House.

Sources: Obama Foundation, WBEZ, Chicago Sun Times