Here Comes the Neighborhood: Jackson Park, the Obama Presidential Center, and the Surrounding Area—Section 2

Class Description

This class will explore Jackson Park, the Obama Presidential Center, and the surrounding neighborhoods through a series of walking tours and readings. We will study the evolution of the park from its beginnings in 1871 to today; the history of the Obama Center from its initial planning to its final built form; and the impact of the changes to the park over the years and the opening of the center on the adjacent communities of Jackson Park Highlands and Woodlawn. The class will visit the Obama Center campus, but not the museum (which requires paid admission and advanced scheduling for groups).

Participants will be responsible for getting to Jackson Park on their own. Directions for reaching the meeting spots for each week by transit or car will be provided.

Please read our Walking Tour Policies. The rain date is August 22.

Diane Dillon is a scholar in residence at the Newberry Library. She holds a PhD in the history of art from Yale.

Interested but not available on these days? Register for the other section of this class running on Wednesdays!

What to Expect

Format: In Person

Class Capacity: 28

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged

Materials List

Required

• Instructor-Distributed Materials
  • The readings will focus on primary source materials, including articles by Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of Jackson Park), architectural critics including Lee Bey, and journalists who have studied the neighborhoods.

A Brief Syllabus

1. At the Newberry
2. The northern section of Jackson Park
3. The Obama Presidential Center
4. The southern section of Jackson Park
5. Woodlawn
6. Jackson Park Highlands

The order of this syllabus is subject to change.

Cost and Registration

6 Sessions, $270 ($243 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($270), Community Supported ($250), and Sponsor ($290). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.

The views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.

Take a Look

View our full schedule of adult education classes.

Support the Newberry

Your generosity is vital in keeping the library’s programs, exhibitions, and reading rooms free and accessible to everyone.

Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

We are in office Tuesday through Thursday, 10 am–6 pm CT.
We are available by email Tuesday through Saturday.