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Chicago's First Skyscrapers

  • Interior building lobby with elevators and mural.

    Marquette building lobby.

Chicago is home to some of the world’s first skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century marvels. *CAC Select tour.

  • Interior building lobby with elevators and mural.

    Marquette building lobby.

Get an up-close look at these 19th century marvels—including three stunning interior lobbies. Learn about the design innovations used to create this revolutionary new building type that transformed cities forever.

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

410 S. Michigan Ave., outside the Fine Arts Building

Today, 9 of these historic early skyscrapers are proposed UNESCO World Heritage sites—and 7 of them are on this tour. As Chicago rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire, pioneering tall office buildings began to rise up in the 1880's and 90's, designed by renowned architects Adler and Sullivan; Burnham and Root/ Holabird and Roche—and the father of the steel-frame skyscraper, William Le Baron Jenney.

Highlights of the tour include Burnham & Root's Rookery (1888), a Moorish castle on the exterior with a stunning interior atrium redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright; Adler & Sullivan's Auditorium Building (1889), whose groundbreaking design includes an interior filled with Louis Sullivan's signature ornament; and Holabird and Roche's Marquette Building (1895), with a lobby filled with art including a rare Tiffany mosaic frieze.

*CAC Select tours are free for membership level Dual and above. See more about the difference between Premier, Essential and Select walking tours or learn more about CAC membership levels.

Tour reviews

    • This tour revisits that fantastic era when Chicago was transforming herself from a marketplace for meat, corn and wheat trading into the business and cultural capital of America’s west.... When I give the tour I can’t help seeing the buildings through the eyes of Chicagoans of that time – the first to magically rise straight up into the sky— and thereafter define the future of their City.
      Deborah GarberCAC Docent
    • Deb was an absolutely incredible guide. Even though it was a bit rainy, she was enthusiastic and SO informative. Not only did I love learning all the details about the development of skyscrapers in Chicago, I gained so much knowledge about the architecture and the history of Chicago. This tour was so worthwhile!
      Angie D.Tour Attendee
  • Exterior of brown building with three columns

    Marquette Building. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers.

  • Interior building lobby with elevators and mural.

    Marquette Building. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers.

  • Exterior of grey stone building on city street corner

    Auditorium Building

  • Exterior of grey stone building on city street corner

    Second Leiter Building

  • Exterior of brown stone building with bay windows

    Manhattan Building

  • Exterior of brown stone building with bay windows

    Monadnock Building. Photo by Peter J Sieger.

  • Exterior of brown stone building with United States flag

    Rookery Building. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers.

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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

    Easy - Paved and flat the entire route

  • Icon of a wheelchair and red arrow

    Wheelchair & Walker Access

    Easy - Fully accessible; no barriers

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

    Steps or Stairs

    Easy - No stairs, step-free route

  • Icon of an ear with a red throughline

    Hearing Access

    Difficult - Loud environment, no devices available

Featured buildings on this tour

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