HIGH SCHOOL TOURS

By foot, boat or bus CAF tours are great ways for your high school group to learn and appreciate the past, present and future of Chicago’s world-renowned architecture. Your students can embrace the power of the skyscrapers and the beauty of Chicago while the most knowledgeable docents entertain them with stories of the men and women who built America’s greatest architecture.

Choose from one of our four tour offerings below.

Interested in an experience not listed here?

CAF offers over 85 tours that can be customized to fit your classroom’s special interest. Call the Group Tours Department for more information today! 312.922.3432 x226

Historic and Modern Combo Walking Tour – 120 minutes

Chicago is widely regarded as the center of early skyscraper innovation and also a world capital of Modern architecture! On this tour your students will learn the stories behind some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers and also gain a unique perspective on the most notable examples of contemporary buildings and styles.

Skyscraper Express Bus Tour – 105 minutes

Students will enjoy unique perspectives of the city as they see Grant Park, the Museum Campus, Millennium Park and Chicago’s expansive downtown parks plus emerging residential neighborhoods and commercial development. Your class will understand the impact of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, the railroads and public transportation systems on the growth of the city, and we will have a chance to get off the bus to view the world-famous skyline that defines Chicago as a vibrant center for architecture.

Skyscraper Walk through Time – 60 minutes

Chicago is known for building some of the world’s first skyscrapers, but how have their designs and technologies changed over time? This one hour walk through the Loop showcases several classic buildings – from 1872 to the present. See how architects adapted building styles to meet the fashions of their era and used cutting-edge engineering to build taller than before!

Student River Cruise – 60 minutes

Redesigned for 2013, the 60-minute Student River Cruise now focuses on the technology and engineering of move-able bridges, the role of the river in Chicago's history and the architectural styles of the buildings along the river. On the newly-updated tour, students will have a chance to participate in an architecture scavenger hunt, collaborate with Mies van der Rohe on his next design through role play, and see Chicago's history up close – all from the boat deck Chicago's First Lady. Offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:30 am in May and October only. Tickets are just $15 each.

How do you foster a teen’s interest in architecture? CAF’s award-winning Architecture Handbook.
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