Proof of Illinois residency is required to obtain free admission at the Obama Presidential Center ahead of its June 19 opening.
Visitors who show proof of residency can obtain free admission on Tuesdays, according to ABC7 Chicago. Admission is typically $30 for adults 12 and older and $23 for children ages three to eleven, while children ages two and under can visit the museum for free.
In addition, admission is $26 for adults who are Illinois residents, and $15 for children ages three to eleven who are Illinois residents, according to former President Barack Obama’s website. The website clearly states that Illinois residents “must be able to provide proof of residency. Be prepared to show proof of residency at the Museum with a valid photo ID, Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or city-issued ID.”
Tickets for Founding Members will be sold beginning April 21, according to ABC7 Chicago. The general public will be able to purchase tickets beginning May 6 and book a visit to the museum from June 19 through November 30.
Tickets to the Obama Presidential Center Museum tickets go on sale May 6. For access to a ticket pre-sale, become a member today: https://t.co/q5Htp7k7My pic.twitter.com/nMjFOYa6ww
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) April 6, 2026
The museum’s move to have visitors show proof of residency to obtain free admission has drawn backlash among conservatives over Democrats’ general opposition to voter ID laws.
“Bring three forms of ID, unless of course you are looking to vote while there,” one social media user wrote on X.
“What a joke. You require IDs for entry but don’t support requiring them to vote. Hypocrisy is alive and well. Who would want to see this monstrosity anyway?,” another social media user said. (RELATED: Obama Tries To Explain What He Meant By Admission Aliens Exist)
The $850 million museum has generated backlash in the past.
The Obama Foundation sought to hire 75 to 100 unpaid volunteers known as “ambassadors” to help with museum operations, while its CEO and former top Obama aide Valerie Jarrett was paid $740,000 in 2024, according to Fox News Digital.
Although the museum is being privately funded, its surrounding infrastructure is estimated to cost approximately $350 million, with costs split between the city and the state, according to Fox News Digital.
The Museum “presents the remarkable story of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, America’s first Black president and First Lady. Dynamic exhibits across four floors explore the promise of democracy and the work of the Obama Presidency. Their challenges and accomplishments are rooted in the stories of the people, events, and policies that influenced them and continue to shape their legacy,” according to Obama’s website.