Grant Park Secrets

  • No image description available.
Unlock the secrets of this Beaux-Arts masterpiece on a tour of this iconic Chicago park.
  • No image description available.

Take a tour of Chicago's "front yard" and learn about its rich past and how it came to be.

Duration
2 hours
Site Type
Parks
Location
Downtown
Architects and Styles
Meet

Art Institute Chicago South Garden; S Michigan Ave. and E. Jackson Blvd., 111 S. Michigan Ave.

Grant Park’s landscape is both a front yard and recreation spot for Chicago but did you know that the area was once underwater? Or that at one time it housed an airfield, a major league sports team and the tomb of a Civil War hero? Join us as we unlock the secrets of this Beaux-Arts masterpiece.

Tour reviews

    • I love this tour because it is so ingrained with the history of the City and takes you into a green space and you can see the built environment as well as the lake when in the center of the park. The fact that it is created from landfill is amazing! There is so much here and we are SO lucky to have Grant Park!
      Debra Jean FrelsCAC Docent
  • A photo of Buckingham Fountain set against a blue sky.

    Buckingham Fountain.

  • A photo of the Theodore Thomas memorial

    Photo by Oscar Shen, licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0.

  • A photo of the John Logan monument in Grant Park.

    Photo by Oscar Shen, licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0.

  • A photo of the Grant Park pedestrian bridge

    Photo by Oscar Shen, licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Tour Accessibility

CAC is committed to improving access to our tours. The accessibility information below reflects our docents’ experience and is provided for general guidance only.

What to expect on this tour

  • Icon of a person walking with a red percentage sign

    Terrain & Surfaces

    Moderate - Some uneven or mixed surfaces 

  • Icon of a wheelchair and red arrow

    Wheelchair & Walker Access

    Moderate - Ramps and alternate routes provided 

  • Icon of the outline or some steps and a red arrow pointing diagonally right and up.

    Steps or Stairs

    Moderate - Step-free alternate route available  

  • Icon of an ear with a red throughline

    Hearing Access

    Easy - Quiet setting, easy to hear 

Places Near This Tour

See All Buildings of Chicago
Skyscraper GallerySkyscraper Gallery

Free Center Entry with Your Ticket

Ticket price includes entrance to the Chicago Architecture Center within 7 days of your walking or bus tour.

Visit the Center
Skyscraper GallerySkyscraper Gallery