FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Stephen Crano, scrano@choosechicago.com, (312) 567-8505
Michelle Gonzalez, mgonzalez@choosechicago.com, (312) 259-5708
Choose Chicago and Big Bus Tours Partner on New Shuttle Service Connecting Downtown Visitors to Chicago’s South Side
Initiative reflects a shared investment in expanding visitation to South Side neighborhoods and cultural destinations ahead of the opening of the Obama Presidential Center
Chicago, IL (May 18, 2026) — Choose Chicago and Big Bus Tours Chicago today announced the launch of a new seasonal shuttle service connecting downtown Chicago with two of the city’s premier South Side cultural destinations: the Obama Presidential Center and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
Operating June 19 through October 18, 2026, the Chicago South Side & Presidential Center Shuttle represents a significant investment in expanding visitor access to the South Side and creating stronger tourism connectivity between downtown and neighborhood cultural destinations ahead of the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Service may be extended beyond its initial operating period based on demand. Tickets can be purchased at BigBusTours.com.
The route will include stops at East Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue, Obama Presidential Center, and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Pricing for the service will be $10 one-way and $17 for all-day passes. Shuttle pricing is being subsidized through Choose Chicago’s investment in the initiative, offering visitors significantly more affordable transportation.
“This partnership is about far more than transportation—it’s about connection,” said Kristen Reynolds, President & CEO of Choose Chicago. “As excitement builds around the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, we jumped at the opportunity to work alongside Big Bus Tours and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to help create an affordable and accessible link between downtown Chicago and two of the South Side’s most iconic cultural destinations—the Obama Presidential Center and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. These buses will make it easier for residents and visitors from around the world to experience the richness, history, innovation, and culture of Chicago’s South Side, while helping ensure the benefits of tourism extend across our neighborhoods and communities.”
In addition to the shuttle service, Choose Chicago is working alongside South Side cultural institutions, neighborhood partners, and local businesses to develop dedicated visitor itineraries, digital guides, and storytelling content designed to encourage deeper exploration of Hyde Park and surrounding communities. The initiative is in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
“As an epicenter of our city’s history, the South Side tells an essential part of Chicago’s story through its culture, creativity and community spirit,” said DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. “The Obama Presidential Center joins a legacy of rich cultural institutions, and we are proud to support initiatives that strengthen connections across Chicago and drive meaningful investment into our communities.”
“We are proud to partner with Choose Chicago to launch this exciting new service,” said John Curran, Senior Vice President of Big Bus Tours Chicago. “This route gives visitors an easy and memorable way to experience more of Chicago’s cultural landscape while expanding access to iconic South Side destinations aboard our signature double-decker buses.”
The shuttle service is expected to support visitation to the Obama Presidential Center, which officially opens June 19 and is already emerging as one of the country’s most anticipated cultural destinations, while also driving additional tourism activity throughout Hyde Park and surrounding South Side communities.
“Visitors are going to love that this new bus service will make it so easy to get to world class cultural institutions on the South Side,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “With our Grand Opening ceremony only a month away, we are so gratified to see Chicago and its leaders build on all the growing excitement, especially by making it easier to access the Obama Presidential Center and our neighboring attractions.”
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry—the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere and a longstanding anchor institution on Chicago’s South Side—also serves as a key destination along the route.
“Griffin MSI has been proud to call Hyde Park home for nearly a century, and we welcome every opportunity to introduce more visitors to this neighborhood and its rich history,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO of Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. “This service makes it easier for families, tourists, students, and residents to visit, directly supporting our mission to make science and discovery accessible to everyone.”
The new route will feature messaging supporting visitation to Chicago. It also marks a significant expansion for Big Bus Tours Chicago, whose traditional service area currently extends only as far south as Museum Campus.
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ABOUT CHOOSE CHICAGO
Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global tourism and meetings destination—the city that’s Never Done and Never Outdone. Choose Chicago leverages the city’s unmatched assets to enrich the community by attracting meetings, events, and more than 55 million annual visitors, generating over $20 billion in economic impact. o and tag #NeverOutdoneChi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.
ABOUT BIG BUS TOURS CHICAGO
Operating in Chicago since 2015, Big Bus Chicago has carried millions of travelers. Big Bus Tours is the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing experiences, inspiring the spirit of adventure in 29 world-famous cities across four continents. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bigbustours.com. Individual tickets (3 yrs and up) for Chicago South Side & Presidential Shuttle begin at $10.00. Advance ticket purchases are recommended.
