Plan Your Visit to the Chicago Architecture Foundation

Locations & Parking
Hours
Tours, Exhibitions, & Programs
School Groups

Photos & Video
Foreign Language Tours & Audio Tours
Tickets & Admission Fees

LOCATIONS & PARKING

River Cruise

Location
The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise departs from the dock of the Chicago’s First Lady Cruise Line/Riverside Gardens. The dock is located at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive, across the street from the Fannie May candy shop. Map

Parking
Discounted parking for all Architecture River Cruise participants is available at Systems Parking, 111 East Wacker Drive. To receive the discount, validate the parking ticket at both the Chicago’s First Lady dock ticket window and the System Parking ticket offices before using the automated machine in the parking facility. Discount applies to stays under 4 hours only. Map

The Chicago Architecture Foundation

Location
The Chicago Architecture Foundation is located at 224 South Michigan Avenue in the Santa Fe Building on the Northwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park. Map

Parking
Discounted parking is available for CAF members at the Millennium Park or Grant Park South parking garages. Show your membership card at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop & Tour Center between 9:30am and 6pm to request your discount voucher. Map

Visit the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra for detailed directions using public transportation.

Visitors with disabilities can find information regarding river cruise access and boarding at http://cruisechicago.com/location/accessible_drop_off_area/

hours

HOURS

Shop & Tour Center

9:00am—6:30pm (Sat-Thurs)
9am—7pm (Fri)

Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day

ArcelorMittal CitySpace Gallery

Daily 9:30am—4:30pm

Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day

Chicago Architecture Foundation

Corporate Offices

9am–5pm (Mon—Fri)

Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day

Tours

TOURS, EXHIBITIONS & PROGRAMS

Tours

In addition to the world-famous Architecture River Cruise (no longer in season; check back in Spring 2013), the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers more than 85 walking, boat, bus, bike, and Segway tours. Find detailed information on all tours, or search for a specific tour by date or keyword in the tours section of the website.

Find a tour

Current Exhibitions

Chicago Model

The Chicago Model is a 320-square-foot model of downtown that enables you to see Chicago as you’ve never seen it before. It is the only accurate and up-to-date model of the city.

Learn more about the model

Loop Value: The How Much Does It Cost? Shop

In a nation obsessed with acquiring the most stuff at the lowest price, how well do we understand the value of the buildings and products we buy? How do our purchases impact the future of our neighborhoods? Visit Loop Value: The How Much Does It Cost? Shop at the Chicago Architecture Foundation and find a new design for your city and your life. It's a shopping trip unlike any you've experienced before.

Learn more about this exhibition

Programs

The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers more than 100 programs each year, most of which are free and held in the Lecture Hall Gallery at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Family friendly programs are also offered at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Learn more

Gallery Talks

Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 12:30pm

Chicago Architecture Foundation volunteers lead 30-minute gallery talks that introduce visitors to the ideas and themes behind the exhibition, Chicago Model City. Learn how a region as vast and complex as Chicago takes shape as a result of various planning efforts, both big and small.

Admission is free and no reservation is necessary. Meet in the Santa Fe Building atrium at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 South Michigan Avenue.

Photos & Video

Unless otherwise posted, you are welcome to take photos and video of exhibitions, programs, and tours with personal hand-held cameras. We welcome everyone to share their photos and videos with us via our social media networks: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare and Pinterest.

Professional photographers and videographers should contact Justin Lyons at 312.922.3432 or jlyons@architecture.org prior to any filming or photography.

Foreign Language Tours & Audio Tours

The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers several foreign language tours and audio tours.

Tickets & Admission Fees

Exhibitions and many programs are free and open to the public. See the programs listing for information.

Many tours are free or discounted for Chicago Architecture Foundation members. See individual tours for prices and purchasing options.

Special Offers

Go Chicago Card is a great way to save on your vacation to Chicago. The Go Chicago Card gives you free access to more than 30 of Chicago’s top attractions and discounts at some of Chicago’s top retailers and restaurants. Visit the Go Chicago Card site for more information and to purchase a card.