By Milton Kirby | Chicago, IL | May 12, 2026

The Obama Foundation announced Tuesday that the Garden Pavilion at the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center will be named in honor of Nancy Pelosi, recognizing the historic legacy of the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and her decades-long influence on American public life.

The announcement is part of a broader unveiling of named spaces throughout the Center honoring civil rights leaders, educators, activists, and public servants whose work helped shape American democracy and civic engagement.

Located along the eastern edge of the Center’s Fruit & Vegetable Garden, the Nancy Pelosi Garden Pavilion will include a garden classroom, workroom, and public restrooms designed to support community programming and public gathering spaces. The pavilion was made possible through a gift from philanthropist and business leader Ron Conway.

Former President Barack Obama praised Pelosi’s role in shaping major legislative victories during his administration, including passage of the Affordable Care Act.

“For almost four decades, Nancy Pelosi served the American people and worked to make our country better,” Obama said. “No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed – and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act.”

Obama said the pavilion will serve not only as a tribute to Pelosi’s leadership, but also as an inspiration for future generations to engage in public service and civic life.

Conway, whose donation funded the pavilion, described the Obama-Pelosi partnership as one of the most consequential political relationships in modern American history.

“In our nation’s entire history, no President and Speaker of the House got more done for our country working together than President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Conway said.

Valerie Jarrett said Pelosi’s career reflects the broader mission of the Presidential Center to encourage civic participation and leadership across generations.

“Nancy Pelosi is one of the foremost leaders of our time,” Jarrett said. “She showed people of any party or background the power of increased involvement of women in our democracy.”

Honoring Leaders Across the Campus

The Pelosi Pavilion is one of several named spaces announced as the Obama Presidential Center prepares for its June 19, 2026 public opening.

Among the newly announced spaces is the Democracy 101 Exhibit honoring Timuel Black, the longtime Chicago educator and civil rights activist who fought segregation in schools and housing.

The Center’s auditorium will bear the name of Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel through support from philanthropists Penny Pritzker and Dr. Bryan Traubert. Foundation leaders said the auditorium will host speakers, performances, and public discussions inspired by the arts and humanities traditions of the Obama White House.

The Fruit & Vegetable Garden itself will honor former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, recognizing her advocacy for civil rights and her creation of the White House Victory Garden during World War II.

Other named spaces include the John W. Rogers Jr. Exhibition Gallery honoring the founder of Ariel Investments, the “Imagine Your Impact” exhibit honoring astronaut Mae Jemison, and the Harold Washington Overlook commemorating Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington.

A Civic Campus Beyond a Museum

Located on Chicago’s South Side near Jackson Park, the Obama Presidential Center is designed as more than a traditional presidential museum. Foundation leaders describe it as a civic campus intended to bring together culture, community, education, and public engagement.

The Foundation said the named spaces are meant to honor what President Obama has often called the “giants” on whose shoulders future generations stand.

“These tributes remind every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world,” the Foundation said.

The Obama Presidential Center officially opens to the public on June 19, 2026, with exhibitions, gardens, educational programming, and community gathering spaces aimed at inspiring the next generation of civic leaders.

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