11 things you can do at the Obama Presidential Center without a ticket

Fact: You don’t need a ticket to visit the Obama Presidential Center. You do, however, need a ticket to get into the museum inside the campus’ towering granite building. 

Also a fact: There’s a lot you can still do here without having a ticket—and much of it is free.

Since its opening on June 19, demand for tickets to the Obama Presidential Center museum has been exponentially high. Earlier this month, a second wave of tickets sold out within two hours. The OPC states on its website that it will update ticket availability on the second Wednesday of each month at 10am CT. If you’re hoping to check out the eight-floor museum, which I highly recommend, then it’s probably wise to set your alarm for the best chance at snagging a coveted ticket.

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But even if you don’t have a ticket, there are still plenty of things to do on the Jackson Park campus. Here are 11 things you can do at the OPC without a ticket.

Explore the grounds

You can easily spend hours on a walk around the 19.3-acre campus. Green spaces abound here, and there are plenty of benches, water fountains, and walking paths for a day of exploration.

Dine at Tafari’s Kitchen

Tafari’s Kitchen is the fast-casual on-site restaurant inside the Forum Building, which is open to the public. Named after the Obamas’ late personal chef, the restaurant features an elevated dining room and additional tables in the lobby area.

Visit the Sky Room observation deck 

Although you need tickets to get into the museum building, the eighth-floor Sky Room is free and open to the public with a reserved Sky Room ticket (access is included with a general admission museum ticket). A limited number of Sky Room tickets are released each day and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up for info on how to secure a Sky Room ticket.

Take the kids to the playground

The first playground built as part of a presidential center, OPB’s nature-inspired playground is a whimsical haven for little ones. Spanning 21,000 square feet, it’s also the city’s first fully accessible play space, featuring elements that support physical, cognitive, and sensory and social play.

Get active at Home Court

The 60,000-square-foot athletic facility on the south end of the campus houses an NBA-regulation-sized basketball court, accessible seating and several meeting rooms for workshops, programming and special events.

Have a picnic on the Great Lawn

Bring a blanket and your favorite snacks for a picnic on the sprawling Great Lawn. The 58,000-square-foot lawn is also home to a massive hill, which will become the South Side’s newest sledding hill come winter.

Check out the Fruit and Vegetable Garden

The fruit and vegetable garden is free and open to the public. There’s also a Garden Classroom and gardener workshops, and an adjacent area with picnic tables and grills available for public use.

Read at the Chicago Public Library branch

The newest branch of the Chicago Public Library is located at the OPC. Here, you can study, read, check out books and visit the Presidential Reading Room, a quiet study featuring a selection of books selected by the Obamas and titles from President Obama’s personal collection. There’s also a dedicated space for kids to read and play.

Relax on the plaza

The Plaza is likely the first place you encounter at the OPC. The expansive area features a nearly-7-foot-tall sculpture of Michelle and Barack Obama (a popular photo-op), tables and benches for lounging, and a prime view of some of the campus’ most impressive architecture.

See public art installations

There are more than 28 works of commissioned art across the campus, and nearly all of them are located outside or in areas that are free to the public. One major highlight is artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s intricate portrait of the Obamas, which is located in the museum’s lobby (outside of the ticketed area).

Take a walk along the wetland

The campus’ Wetland Walk captures stormwater, which is treated and reused to irrigate the landscape. The Wetland Walk is open for the public to roam through via walking paths. There’s also seating and play spaces for children along the way.

The Obama Presidential Center is located at 6001 S. Stony Island Ave. The campus is open daily from 6am-9pm. The Museum is open Monday from 1-8pm, and Tuesday through Sunday from 10am-5pm. For tickets and more information, click here.