A Guide to Chicago’s South Side, Home of the New Obama Center

Article excerpt

The Obama Presidential Center opens June 19 in Chicago's Hyde Park, a neighborhood long overshadowed despite its rich history and cultural institutions. The $700 million complex sits in a predominantly Black area on the South Side, anchored by the University of Chicago and featuring museums, theaters, and restaurants that have quietly sustained the community for decades. The center's arrival is expected to draw national attention and tourism dollars to an area many visitors skip, though longtime residents have their own reasons for knowing the neighborhood well. A new travel guide highlights what's already there: historic architecture, excellent food, independent bookstores, and walkable lakefront parks that predate the presidential library's opening.