Tour
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!
Chicago might not be the first town that comes to mind when discussing film capitals, but it still has a rich history with movies. This 90-minute walk unveils the story behind more than a dozen buildings that have made an appearance in films shown around the world. You'll learn why movies are filmed here and how the city's economy has benefited from the industry in recent years.
Notes:
- Your safety is our priority. The itinerary of this tour may be altered in accordance with health and safety policies and considerations.
- This tour ends at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.
- Ticket price includes entrance to the Chicago Architecture Center within 7 days of your tour. View the CAC's hours.
Highlights of this Tour
Tribune Tower
435 N. Michigan Ave.
In 1922, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the Chicago Tribune announced an international competition…
Michigan Avenue Bridge (DuSable Bridge)
N. Michigan Ave. and E. Wacker Dr.
The place where Michigan Avenue crosses the Chicago River is one of the most iconic urban spaces in the…
Trump Tower
401 N. Wabash Ave.
When our docents explain that the Trump International Hotel & Tower reflects its surroundings, they aren’t…
Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St.
When you first encounter the Thompson Center, you might wonder if a UFO has landed in the middle of the…
Postmodern
Style
A reaction to Modernism Postmodernism began as a critique. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Modernism…
Helmut Jahn
Architect/Firm
Architect Helmut Jahn (1940-2021) came to Chicago from Germany in 1966 to study under Ludwig Mies van…
London Guarantee Building
360 N. Michigan Ave.
Located where Fort Dearborn once stood, the London Guarantee & Accident Building is one of four structures…
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington St.
Mid-Century Modern buildings in the International Style are sometimes referred to as “skin and bones…
Merchandise Mart
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza
Size has always mattered in the Midwest.
Wrigley Building
400-410 N. Michigan Ave.
The Wrigley Building is so recognizable, it hardly needs an introduction.
Marina City
300 N. State St.
“In our 'cities within cities' we shall turn our streets up into the air, and stack the daytime and…
330 North Wabash / AMA Plaza (IBM Plaza)
330 N. Wabash Ave.
One of the last American projects designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, this powerful Modernist structure…
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Architect/Firm
It’s difficult to imagine what the skyline of Chicago might look like without architect Ludwig Mies van…
Arts and Crafts
Style
The Arts and Crafts movement originated in England in the mid-19th century as an antidote to the dehumanizing…
Similar Tours
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady
Experience why we’re the #1 rated boat cruise in Chicago!
Architecture of the Magnificent Mile
Discover how a dirt road known as Pine Street transformed into a "Paris on the Prairie" and later into…
Macy's on State: The Legacy of Marshall Field's
Explore the construction, development and renovation of this State Street landmark by Daniel Burnham…
Trump International Hotel & Tower
Completed in 2009, Trump Tower is the second-tallest building in Chicago. View the building, its plaza…
Modernist Masterpieces: Marina City and the IBM Building
Where else but Chicago can you find two iconic mid-century buildings living side by side? Get the inside…