(CHICAGO (August 22, 2005) As summer comes to an end, there’s no place more relaxing than a cruise down the river on an Architecture River Cruise. Enjoy Chicago’s magnificent riverfront and discover a new perspective while learning about more than 50 historic and architecturally significant buildings.

Trained volunteer docents, who are Chicago architecture enthusiasts, lead the tours and assist passengers in discovering why Chicago’s architecture is ranked among the finest in the world. Docents guide the Architecture River Cruise after they complete a graduate-level, ten-week training program. The passion that each docent holds for architecture is evident in their extraordinary knowledge for the city as a whole. The docents’ excitement and enthusiasm makes Chicago Architecture Foundation’s (CAF) Architecture River Cruise an unforgettable experience that stands apart from any other.

CAF’s Architecture River Cruise began in 1983 when former docent of the first docent class in 1971, Robert Irving, observed Chicago’s architectural beauty from the river. Irving was motivated to establish a CAF river cruise and found access to an old wooden 50-foot boat, called the Betty Jane, which became CAF’s first River Cruise tour boat. Irving established the great tradition of dedication and enthusiasm in teaching the public about Chicago's amazing architectural legacy. Recently, Irving enlightened Lynn Osmond, CAF president and CEO, about an unforgettable experience he had on the first boat tour down the Chicago River.

“He recalled how on their maiden voyage, arrangements were made for the bridge to raise while heading south on the river, however, upon their return, no prior preparations had been made for raising it, so the bridge was down,” explains Osmond. “They had to turn around and everyone had to be bused from the area that is now Ping Tom Memorial Park back to the dock; the boat finally made it back later. This is what CAF calls ‘a learning experience’ — we’ve come a long way since then.”

As the Architecture River Cruise grew in popularity, longtime operators of Mercury Cruise Lines, Holly and Bob Agra, built a new 225-passenger boat named Chicago’s First Lady. CAF worked out a partnership with Mercury, so Chicago’s First Lady and later a 149-passenger sister vessel, Chicago’s Little Lady, became the official vessels for CAF’s Architecture River Cruise. The custom design of these luxury vessels offers a breathtaking open-and-airy perspective of the Chicago skyline from the river. In fact, to ensure every ticket holder has the maximum benefit of the outside upper deck view, only 120 tickets are sold per ride, exactly the number of seats on the upper deck.

River cruise tickets can be purchased at the CAF’s ArchiCenter, located at 224. South Michigan Avenue, CAF/Mercury Cruise Lines dock and at the Hot Tix booth at Chicago Water Works Visitor Center, or through Ticketmaster online www.ticketmaster.com and telephone at 312.902.1500. Come aboard for this 90-minute tour on either Chicago’s First Lady or Chicago’s Little Lady through Nov. 20.

Editors note: Prices for the Architecture River Cruise Friday thru Sunday and Holidays is $25; Monday through Thursday is $23.