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Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Riverfront

  • Art deco

    Trustees System Service Building, interior. Photo by Bill Coffin.

Step inside the lobbies of five Art Deco masterpieces built near the banks of the Chicago River and see how their lavish ornament reflected the prosperity and optimism of the Roaring 20s.
  • Art deco

    Trustees System Service Building, interior. Photo by Bill Coffin.

Discover the bold style and rich detail of Art Deco architecture while answering questions like: What defines Art Deco? Where did the term come from? And was that green skyscraper on Michigan Avenue really designed to look like a Champagne bottle?

Duration
1.5 hours
Site Type
Neighborhoods
Location
Downtown
Architects and Styles
Meet

Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E. Wacker Dr.

Step inside the style that defined the business boom of the Roaring ’20s and the expansion of Chicago’s downtown. Highlights include official city landmarks like the Chicago Motor Club Building (now the Hampton Inn), featuring a floor-to-ceiling map of the United States trimmed in silver leaf, and the Trustees System Service Building (now Century Tower), with walls of Algerian marble. The tour concludes inside the landmark Merchandise Mart (now The Mart), which was the largest building in the world when it was completed in 1930.

Tour reviews

    • When I lead this Deco tour, I get a kick out of seeing guests’ faces light up when they go inside the lobbies -- buildings aren’t designed with glitzy ornament like this anymore!
      Bill CoffinCAC Docent
    • My family and I had a great time in a chilly day in November visiting Art Deco buildings with our guide Cynthia. It was a cold morning in Chicago, nonetheless the combination of time spent outside and inside of the buildings, along with Cynthia’s knowledge, enthusiasm and warmth made this a wonderful experience. The tour was very informative, and gave us the opportunity to learn about and see Art Deco details that are normally overlooked. Once again, the Chicago Architecture Center lived up to our expectations.
      Tour attendee
  • Carbide and Carbon Building Elevators

    Carbide and Carbon Building Elevators. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers.

  • Merchandise Mart, lobby

    Merchandise Mart, lobby. Photo by Bill Coffin.

  • Merchandise Mart, elevators.

    Merchandise Mart, elevators. Photo by Bill Coffin.

  • Trustees System Service Building, interior

    Trustees System Service Building, interior. Photo by Bill Coffin.

  • Trustees System Service Building, interior

    Trustees System Service Building, interior. Photo by Bill Coffin.

  • Chicago Motor Club Building

    Chicago Motor Club Building. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers.

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