Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady
#1 boat tour in North America according to USA Today Readers' Choice 2021 Awards! Looking for the ultimate…
Recommended Tours
Visiting Chicago
Choose one of CAC’s acclaimed architecture tours, from a selection of our guests’ perennial favorites.
Latest and Greatest
Join us on one of our newest tours of the city, led by an expertly trained CAC Docent.
Skyscrapers
Select a tour of architectural treasures throughout Chicago and its suburbs, brought to life as only a CAC docent can.
Parks & Public Spaces
Explore Chicago’s green spaces and learn why well-designed parks and outdoor recreational areas are essential to the city.
Neighborhood Tours
Choose a tour featuring your favorite architect.
Visiting Chicago
Choose one of CAC’s acclaimed architecture tours, from a selection of our guests’ perennial favorites.
7 Tours in this collection
Must-See Chicago
Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous…
Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time
Want a quick introduction to Chicago’s magnificent architecture? This 90-minute tour takes a comprehensive…
Chicago Icons: Connecting Past and Present
This lively overview of Chicago architecture explores iconic buildings from the 1890s to present. We'll…
Chicago’s First Skyscrapers
Chicago is home to some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century…
Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park
Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. View…
Elevated Architecture: Downtown "L" Train
Explore Chicago’s amazing architecture from the unique perspective of elevated trains and station platforms…
Latest and Greatest
Join us on one of our newest tours of the city, led by an expertly trained CAC Docent.
4 Tours in this collection
Wabash Avenue Arts Corridor
Discover a living urban canvas along the Wabash Avenue Arts Corridor in the South Loop. Learn more about…
What's New
Over the course of 90 minutes, explore some of the newest buildings around the Chicago Architecture Center…
Aqua, St. Regis Chicago and Lakeshore East
Take a short walk to see the Lakeshore East neighborhood, featuring two notable buildings designed by…
Riverwalk East
Learn about newly completed improvements to the Chicago Riverwalk—starting at the Vietnam Memorial…
Skyscrapers
Select a tour of architectural treasures throughout Chicago and its suburbs, brought to life as only a CAC docent can.
5 Tours in this collection
Chicago’s First Skyscrapers
Chicago is home to some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century…
Mid-Century Modern Skyscrapers
Looking for iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture? What better place than Chicago with its triumvirate…
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Loop
Go inside the lobbies of Art Deco masterpieces built in the heart of Chicago’s financial district during…
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Riverfront
Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during…
Aqua, St. Regis Chicago and Lakeshore East
Take a short walk to see the Lakeshore East neighborhood, featuring two notable buildings designed by…
Parks & Public Spaces
Explore Chicago’s green spaces and learn why well-designed parks and outdoor recreational areas are essential to the city.
4 Tours in this collection
Chicago's Moveable Bridges
Understand how the unique Chicago-style bascule bridges work. View the underpinnings of the bridges,…
Walk the 606
Learn about The 606/Bloomingdale Trail and how it came to be during this 90-minute, one-mile walking…
Grant Park Secrets
Grant Park’s landscape is both front yard and recreation spot for Chicago. But did you know that the…
Civil War to Civil Rights at Oak Woods Cemetery
Hear the stories behind the people buried at the beautiful and tranquil Oak Woods Cemetery on Chicago’s…
Neighborhood Tours
Choose a tour featuring your favorite architect.
6 Tours in this collection
Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park
Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. View…
Northwestern University
Discover Northwestern University’s stunning, wooded campus on the shore of Lake Michigan. This two-hour…
Hyde Park
In addition to being the site of the 1893 World’s Fair, Hyde Park is also home to the University of…
Explore Chinatown
Discover the art, architecture and history of Chinatown on this 90-minute walk, which includes stops…
Uptown
Discover Uptown—a treasure trove of terra cotta ornament and creatively repurposed historic buildings;…
Fulton-Randolph Market
Discover the fascinating 150-year evolution of the Fulton-Randolph Market District from food wholesaling…
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Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady
#1 boat tour in North America according to USA Today Readers' Choice 2021 Awards! Looking for the ultimate Chicago architecture experience? Buy a combo ticket for the river cruise AND visit the Chicago Architecture Center—you'll save $9! For more than…
Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time
Want a quick introduction to Chicago’s magnificent architecture? This 90-minute tour takes a comprehensive look at the city’s architectural history by viewing buildings in chronological order, from early skyscrapers to new supertall high rises.
Chicago’s First Skyscrapers
Chicago is home to some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century marvels, learn about innovations used to build them and discover how they transformed Chicago into a center of skyscraper design and engineering…
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Loop
Go inside the lobbies of Art Deco masterpieces built in the heart of Chicago’s financial district during the Roaring '20s. Learn how Art Deco reflected the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornament.
Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age
Learn about the great architectural landmarks of Michigan Avenue and State Street. The 40 years between 1890 and 1930 saw the creation of some of Chicago’s the most memorable buildings, many of which are featured on this tour.
Wabash Avenue Arts Corridor
Discover a living urban canvas along the Wabash Avenue Arts Corridor in the South Loop. Learn more about the murals that make up this colorful corridor and discover art in hidden places.
Tiffany in Chicago
Learn about the life and work of Louis Comfort Tiffany as we visit some of Chicago’s most magnificent art-glass and mosaic installations, each designed and crafted by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
Must-See Chicago
Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous buildings, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis (Sears) Tower, the Chicago Theatre and more!
Architecture of the Magnificent Mile
Discover how a dirt road known as Pine Street transformed into a "Paris on the Prairie" and later into the Magnificent Mile, the city’s premier shopping district. Hear the secrets and stories behind the striking buildings on North Michigan Avenue that…
What's New
Over the course of 90 minutes, explore some of the newest buildings around the Chicago Architecture Center, focusing on construction elements and their impact on the city’s built environment.
Mid-Century Modern Skyscrapers
Looking for iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture? What better place than Chicago with its triumvirate of modern architects (Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and SOM) and a city ready and willing to accept them. Find out what set these buildings…
Humboldt Park
Walk the historic core in the largest of Chicago’s West Side parks, created by many including William LeBaron Jenney and Jens Jensen. Discover architecture and sculpture that honor many of the immigrant groups that have created our city. Our walk partner…
Historic Austin
Explore the architectural gems of Austin, a former “railroad suburb” on Chicago’s West side. Annexed in 1899, Austin became the home of numerous immigrant communities and remains a hub for many grand residences built in the fashionable Queen Anne…
Kenilworth
Walk Kenilworth's leafy streets, learn the history of the village, view its earliest houses and see other fine examples of residential architecture that were designed between 1891 and the mid-1920s by distinguished Chicago architects.
Chicago Icons: Connecting Past and Present
This lively overview of Chicago architecture explores iconic buildings from the 1890s to present. We'll compare and contrast a wide range of buildings with varying architectural styles and see how older structures connect to new skyline additions.
Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park
Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. View the exteriors of nearly a dozen of Wright’s structures.
Explore Chinatown
Discover the art, architecture and history of Chinatown on this 90-minute walk, which includes stops at a Chinese bakery and a former Italian church. The tour begins and ends near some of Chinatown's tastiest restaurants, convenient for those wanting…
Northwestern University
Discover Northwestern University’s stunning, wooded campus on the shore of Lake Michigan. This two-hour walking tour explores a wide variety of architectural styles, from 19th Century Collegiate Gothic buildings to cutting-edge, contemporary designs…
Walk the 606
Learn about The 606/Bloomingdale Trail and how it came to be during this 90-minute, one-mile walking tour along the beautifully restored Bloomingdale railroad viaduct on Chicago’s northwest side.
Fulton-Randolph Market
Discover the fascinating 150-year evolution of the Fulton-Randolph Market District from food wholesaling and meatpacking to gourmet restaurants, technology hubs and boutique hotels.
Lights, Camera, Architecture!
Chicago’s unique architecture has co-starred in movies with Ferris Bueller, Batman and the Blues Brothers, among other famous big screen characters. See some of the buildings featured in these films and more!
Kenwood
Hear the history of this stately neighborhood, home to Chicago’s early industrialists, modern-day innovators and President Barack Obama.
Walk Pilsen
Discover Pilsen, a neighborhood that continues to welcome immigrants, adding to the mosaic that enriches urban life. Walk a vibrant community whose architecture and art reflect the dreams of all who come to Chicago. Trace European and Mexican influences…
Uptown
Discover Uptown—a treasure trove of terra cotta ornament and creatively repurposed historic buildings; home to entertainment palaces like the Riviera, Green Mill and the Aragon Ballroom; and one of the most diverse neighborhoods on the North Side.
Evanston Along the Lake
This walk through Evanston's Lakeshore Historic District explores a variety of churches and residences in the town that became Daniel Burnham's "country retreat" and which is still considered one of Chicago's most desirable suburbs.
Hyde Park
In addition to being the site of the 1893 World’s Fair, Hyde Park is also home to the University of Chicago and many significant buildings, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Robie House.
Gold Coast: Astor Street
Discover the architectural treasures of the Astor Street Historic District, one of Chicago's most affluent neighborhoods. The tour covers residential architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and looks at the preservation movement of the…
Gold Coast: Dearborn Street
See beautifully preserved examples of domestic architecture of the early 1900s in this delightful walk along three blocks of Dearborn Street in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Aqua, St. Regis Chicago and Lakeshore East
Take a short walk to see the Lakeshore East neighborhood, featuring two notable buildings designed by the woman-led Studio Gang Architects: Aqua Tower and the St. Regis Chicago.
Mies and Modernism: The IIT Campus Tour
The Illinois Institute of Technology is home to the largest group of buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe—the most influential figure in American Modernism. This tour traces the evolution of the campus with a special emphasis on the years 1938—1958—the…
Wicker Park
Learn the history of this Northwest Side classic Chicago neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Developed by numerous immigrant communities beginning in the 1870s, today it is a diverse mix of economic levels and architectural…
Grant Park Secrets
Grant Park’s landscape is both front yard and recreation spot for Chicago. But did you know that the area was once under water? 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…
Chicago's Moveable Bridges
Understand how the unique Chicago-style bascule bridges work. View the underpinnings of the bridges, as the tour follows the bridge lifts of three of the Chicago River’s most famous bridges, including Michigan Avenue’s DuSable Bridge, Columbus Drive’s…
Civil War to Civil Rights at Oak Woods Cemetery
Hear the stories behind the people buried at the beautiful and tranquil Oak Woods Cemetery on Chicago’s South Side, from important local African Americans who fought for Civil Rights to Confederate prisoners of war.
Civil War and Chicago's Role: Rosehill Cemetery
Hear the stories of the heroes, villains and ordinary citizens on this visit to Rosehill Cemetery. Learn about the people who were instrumental in the nomination of Lincoln, discover the role of newspaper editors in this struggle and those who were involved…
Elevated Architecture: Downtown "L" Train
Explore Chicago’s amazing architecture from the unique perspective of elevated trains and station platforms. Learn the history behind the famous "L" system and hear how it has shaped the development of buildings within the Loop.
875 N. Michigan Ave (John Hancock Center)
Completed in 1970, 875 N. Michigan Ave (John Hancock Center) dominates the northern end of Chicago’s skyline. On this tour, you'll learn how the building forever changed the character of North Michigan Avenue.
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Riverfront
Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during the business boom of the Roaring '20s. Learn how Art Deco reflected the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornament.
White City Revisited
Explore Jackson Park, site of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and future home to the Obama Presidential Center.
Beverly (South): A Castle, Mansions and More
Tour one of Chicago’s most fascinating neighborhoods, Beverly. Explore two houses built just after the Great Fire of 1871, a Frank Lloyd Wright home and a true Chicago castle. This tour showcases part of Chicago’s Longwood Drive Landmark District…
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
Experience the museum quality restoration of an iconic Chicago landmark, the most exclusive men's club in the city, now a model of adaptive reuse as a chic boutique hotel.
Chicago Board of Trade Building
The Chicago Board of Trade is a Loop icon and City of Chicago and US National Historic Landmark that anchors La Salle Street, described in the building's opening brochure as the 'monarch' of the street, still standing tall and proud. We’ll see newly…
Churches By Bus
Once a year, a caravan of buses travels to a new area of the city to appreciate architecturally significant churches. This year, see amazing worship spaces on the South and Near West Sides of Chicago.
Devil in the White City
History buffs and true crime lovers, rejoice! This bus tour delves into the compelling true story told in Erik Larson’s best-selling novel, “Devil in the White City.” The story traverses two simultaneous events in Chicago’s history: the World’s…
Fine Arts Building
Discover this treasure trove on Michigan Avenue and learn how it went from a carriage showroom to a high-profile artists’ colony that housed tenants like Frank Lloyd Wright, Lorado Taft and Harriet Monroe.
Fort Sheridan
Discover the history and architecture of Fort Sheridan, a former military base listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
French Language (Langue Française): Les Incontournables
Cette visite vous propose un aperçu complet de l’architecture de Chicago, de ses bâtiments les plus connus et admirés, ainsi que la collection de nombreuses œuvres d’art dans le centre de la ville.
Graceland Cemetery
Beautiful and serene, Graceland Cemetery is a treasured oasis in the center of our bustling city. Notables interred here are Chicago's movers and shakers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Daniel Burnham, Potter Palmer, Charles Wacker, George…
Graceland Cemetery: Symbols in Stone
As we explore a venerable section of Graceland Cemetery, we’ll discuss the meanings of and changes to gravestone symbols and shapes, from Victorian times to the present day.
Graceland Cemetery: Women of Influence
During Chicago’s period of growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women played a hugely influential role by participating in the Underground Railroad, exhibiting the first Modern Art paintings, creating the juvenile justice system and even…
Highland Park
This tour traces Highland Park’s history from pioneer settlement to summer retreat for Chicago’s wealthy to year-round suburb. Encounter a beautiful variety of residential styles and see homes by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and W. W. Boyington…
Hotel Boom: Making Old New Again
Chicago’s growth as a favorite travel destination has fueled a surge in the creative repurposing of historic skyscrapers into chic new hotels. Learn how and why a former motor club, insurance company and bank have undergone this change
Inland Steel Building
As the first skyscraper built within the Loop after World War II, the Inland Steel Building became an instant symbol of Chicago’s prominence as a modern American city in the 20th century.
Lake Bluff
Explore the fascinating history reflected in the unique designs of the North Shore suburb of Lake Bluff. Trace the history from the formation of the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association, and their plans for a resort similar to the Chautauqua movement,…
Lake Forest Cemetery
Experience the Lake Forest Cemetery's park-like setting overlooking Lake Michigan in one of Chicago's most beautiful premier suburbs. Hear stories of Lake Forest's founding and those who made their mark from Civil War to modern times.
Lincoln Park: From Cemetery to Sculpture Garden
Take a pleasant walk through Chicago’s beautiful Lincoln Park—a former lakeside cemetery turned recreation destination. Hear about the park’s history, learn the stories behind famous sculptures and enjoy a stroll through the park’s beloved zoo…
Macy's on State: The Legacy of Marshall Field's
Explore the construction, development and renovation of this State Street landmark by Daniel Burnham.
Marquette Building
Completed in 1895, the Marquette Building brings Chicago’s early history to life in an artistic and elegant setting. Examine the innovative exterior and get an up-close view of the beautiful interior.
Merchandise Mart
Once the largest building in the world, the Merchandise Mart remains a center for commercial and residential design. This massive structure has kept up with the times and is now recognized as a key Chicago hub for technological innovation.
Monadnock Building
Tour the world’s tallest commercial building with load-bearing masonry walls and learn how the transition from masonry to steel frame skyscrapers transformed the workplace.
Old Town Triangle
No other Chicago neighborhood is like Old Town. Tucked behind high-rises and moments from the vast green space of Lincoln Park, this landmark district has a unique history and diversity. Today diversity adds richness to Old Town from St. Michael's Church—considered…
Motor Row
Take a trip back into the Golden Age of the automobile when all your automotive needs could be found in what remains the most intact historic automotive mall in the United States. The Landmark Motor Row Historic District contains more than 50 buildings…
Navy Pier
Tour all three theaters at Chicago Shakespeare Theater with their unique and innovative designs. Learn about the complete history of Navy Pier from a fully functional commercial pier, to a naval training center, to the U of I Chicago campus to an entertainment…
Palmer House Hotel
Experience the glamour, intrigue and excitement of the bygone "Grand Hotel" era at the Palmer House. See recently restored public spaces and renovated guest rooms while learning about the history of Chicago’s oldest continually operating hotel.
Pub Tour: Andersonville
Experience the Swedish influences of Andersonville a historically landmarked neighborhood settled in the 1850's. Join us in seeing architecture taken to new uses and now operate as churches, restaurants and schools with Scandinavian inspiration. Get…
Pub Tour: Near North
Explore the variety of living spaces in the Near North neighborhood, part of River North. High rise living among micro-unit apartments interspersed with various hotels broaden the idea of working from home. Historically a destination for Italian immigrants…
Pub Tour: West Loop
Combining post-Chicago fire buildings with the recent influx of residents and company headquarters locations, see how buildings in the West Loop have adapted to spaces for families to live, work and play. Stroll by an abundance of cutting-edge dining…
Reliance Building
Marvel at the original marble, mahogany doors and decorative wrought iron found throughout the two lobbies and uppermost floors of this 1895 building, designed by John Wellborn Root and Charles Atwood.
River North: Transformation of a Neighborhood
See historic gems in this former center of manufacturing and explore its boom-and-bust transformation into a vibrant neighborhood buzzing with residential buildings, entertainment venues and office towers. Steeped in history and character, River North…
Riverwalk East
Learn about newly completed improvements to the Chicago Riverwalk—starting at the Vietnam Memorial and heading east to Lake Michigan—including new public art, trees, landscaping and outposts for picnicking.
Rookery Building
Explore the interior and exterior of one of Chicago’s most famous and beloved historic buildings: The Rookery by Daniel Burnham and John Wellborn Root.
Sacred Spaces in Downtown Chicago
Chicago's downtown is home to a number of striking and architecturally significant houses of worship. Visit several of these sites, including "the tallest church in the world"—a skyscraper with offices, designed for worship and work.
Sheffield Historic District
Historic Sheffield is long considered a gem of late 19th century architecture, its streets lined with gorgeous homes from that era and beyond. Also noteworthy are the three Row House Districts from the 1870s and ’80s, each of them landmarked by the…
The Old Post Office
Explore the new Old Post Office Building, whose early 20th-century design has been adaptively reused into a beautiful, modern Class A Office building.
Ukrainian Village
Take in the beauty of Ukrainian Village’s churches—including Louis Sullivan’s stunning Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral—and residential architecture while hearing stories of Eastern European immigrants who first called the neighborhood…
University of Chicago
Come explore the early Collegiate Gothic roots of the university campus in the original quadrangles, the “march of mid-century modernism” along the Midway and the recent, breath-taking architectural additions such as the Mansueto Library and the Midway…
Trump International Hotel & Tower
Completed in 2009, Trump Tower is the second-tallest building in Chicago. View the building, its plaza and the Riverwalk as you learn about its unique architecture and engineering.
Union Station: Icon of a Great Age
Union Station is one of the last grand train stations still operating in the U.S. and the only one in Chicago, serving both Amtrak and Metra commuter rail. Take in the elaborate details of this historic landmark, including the stunning Great Hall, which…
Sustainable Design by Bus
Discover the innovative and unique ways architects and planners have created functional spaces while simultaneously reducing their impact on the climate.
Columbia College Student Center
This Gold LEED certified building, with myriad sustainable features throughout, includes recyclable materials, glass that protects against birds flying into the building, noise cancelling walls for music practitioners and low-carbon concrete.
Murals By Bus: Bronzeville
Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood is steeped in history, with a rich culture spanning nearly a century. The neighborhood is home to a notable collection of public murals worth stopping to take it all in.
Gothic Chicago By Bus
The revival of Gothic architecture did not miss Chicago when it took America by storm. See how the Gothic style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was captured by Chicago architects in religious and secular spaces.
Elevated Architecture Downtown: Express Tour
Ride with a local on the express version of our classic "L" train tour.
Vietnam Memorial and Riverwalk: Express Tour
See Chicago's memorial to servicemen and women of Illinois, and explore one of the latest additions to Chicago, the Riverwalk.
Chicago’s First Skyscrapers: Express Tour
Get an up-close look at some of the world's earliest skyscrapers on the express version of our classic tour.