The Obama Presidential Center will release more museum tickets at 9 a.m. Wednesday after selling out completely through Nov. 30. The new timed-entry tickets cover select visits through Jan. 3, giving visitors another chance to reserve a paid entry slot at the campus’s only ticketed attraction.
Valerie Jarrett on demand
Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation, said the center is eager to add inventory after the opening ceremony last month on Juneteenth drew strong interest. “The overwhelming interest we’ve seen since opening our doors is a powerful reminder of how much people are looking for spaces that bring us closer together,” she said in a statement.
Jarrett also said, “We’re thrilled to make more tickets available and grateful to our members whose support helps us invest in the next generation of changemakers.” Museum Admission costs between $15 and $30 and allows visitors to choose timed entry, with access to all four levels of the Museum, the Oval Office and the Sky Room.
6001 S. Stony Island Ave.
The center sits at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave. in WOODLAWN, and the museum is the only ticketed part of the campus. The outdoor spaces and the library are free and open to the public, so the Wednesday release affects only visitors planning to enter the museum itself.
Public interest rose after the Juneteenth opening ceremony, and the center says buyers may face a wait in the virtual queue when sales start. “We expect high demand for tickets, and you may experience a wait when purchasing your Museum tickets. Please be patient — your spot in line is saved,” the center said in an announcement email.
Jan. 3 visits
Visitors can buy up to 9 tickets, but the limited release means availability can disappear quickly. Anyone hoping for a near-term visit should be ready at 9 a.m. Wednesday, since the sale is aimed at select dates through Jan. 3 rather than a broad open-ended release.
Admission on Illinois Free Days will also be available, while upcoming public events at the Obama Presidential Center include House Music on the Plaza on July 10 and a Garden Gathering at the Vegetable Garden on July 12. For museum access, the practical step is simple: be in line when the sale opens, because the queue itself may determine whether a visitor gets a slot.
