Chicago Architecture Center Reviews

The tour was excellent! Great for visitors, or local Chicagoans looking to learn more about the city. Tom was an amazing tour guide - very engaging, knowledgeable, and friendly. Will do more tours with CAC in the future!

Cynthia was wonderful. It was a very cold day and she kept us engaged and warm with her knowledge and pleasant demeanor. The lobbies don't disappoint! I highly recommend.

Such interesting history in this city taught through the beautiful architecture. Cynthia was an excellent guide. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it.

Streetervill Tour
New tour East of John Hancock. History and Architecture of the area. See some of the grandest places in Chicago. Always learing new fun facts on these wonderful tours.

My parents and I did the Historic Treasures of Chicago walking tour with Michael and we had such a great time! Michael was very knowledgeable and friendly, and the buildings we saw were so beautiful and unique. It was a great way to explore Chicago and learn more about the architecture and history of the city. We definitely plan on doing another tour with the Chicago Architecture Center in the future!

Rose our Docent was very knowledgeable and friendly and spent extra time answering all of our questions. She kept the tour relevant and interesting to our group. It was a great 90-100 minutes of beautiful art architecture and history of Chicago

We loved this experience. Our tour guide, Marcia, made it so enjoyable and informative. We covered so much and not one second was wasted. Marcia was great!

The Rosehill cemetery tour was excellent Ellen was an Ideal guide and she really was interesting and factual. We enjoyed the tour very much and hope there other tours on Rosehill cemetery.

I’ve taken 4 walking tours and the river cruise all have been very informative and fun. Highly recommended. Fine make me get to 100 characters

Alice was our tour guide on the architecture river trip. She was fantastic so we joined her on the old post office tour as well. We loved her enthusiasm and all the knowledge she shared with us. We'll worth the while.

John I. gave us an awesome tour! I would love to come back and do more tours with this company! Architecture tour showed some amazing works that I would have missed without it.

Very complete and explanatory of the time when these buildings were built.
There were also descriptions of each of the buildings with their history and gossip

How can you visit Chicago without celebrating and learning about its amazing architecture? Start at the Center - and then book a walking tour that piques your interest. When you buy a ticket for admission, the cost applies to your tour. I booked a walking tour that focused on four amazing buildings in the financial district (November 16, 2025). Our guide Robin was a fountain of knowledge and was passionate about Chicago architecture. This is a must for anyone visiting this fantastic city.

The CAC Old Post Office tour was excellent. Lorie, our docent, did a terrific job in both bringing to life the old structure and workings of the Chicago Post Office of the 1920s and 30s, and the remarkable reuse remodel that has turned the building into a beautiful event and corporate space. The tour included exploration of building elements which not normally available to the public, including the lovely rooftop gardens and amenity space. As a lifelong Chicago I truly enjoyed the insights behind the old and new building!

Amazing tour- highlight of our Chicago trip. Chris, the volunteer guide, was fantastic and the 90 min flew by. Highly recommend

Great tour with Paul S - highly recommend. I went midweek at 1pm and it was just the two of us. He has an incredible memory and talked about the buildings for 2 hours straight and I was never bored. He also shared personal stories about watching the buildings change over the decades he’s lived in Chicago. When we entered the Palmer hotel he made sure to take me up the back escalators so the stunning room unfolded in front of me at the top. I would definitely do another walking tour through CAC next time I visit. Thank you, Paul!

Wonderful guide who helped us understand some of Chicago’s iconic architecture. Leisurely pace, very insightful. Would recommend for sure!

The tour was fantastic to have a glimpse of the city main pieces of art and buildings, that is an outdoor arquitectural exhibition. Our amazing guide explained all the history and interesting facts about the construction of the city in a very entertaining way.

We took this tour with Mitch. There was one other couple on the tour and it was a beautiful warm November day. Mitch was really knowledgeable and we learned a great deal about the building styles along Michigan Ave. as well as about the personalities of the movers and shakers in Chicago. There’s a fair amount of walking - an hour and a half that flew by but wear comfortable shoes and be dressed for the weather. This was another great CAC volunteer led tour

Susan was a great guide to seeing the Gang Studio buildings and their surrounding neighborhood in Lakeshore East. Really enjoyed the insights she shared about the design, construction and neighborhood. Highly recommend this tour.

This tour is an excellent way to learn about the contribution of several outstanding female architects in Chicago. Amy, our guide, gave a fun tour that was also very educational.

Learned so much about the early history of Michigan Ave and its buildings. You will not walk the entire mile, just about halfway up Michigan Ave. Many architectural details will be discussed, described, and pointed out (Gothic, Art Deco, Art Modern, etc).

This was a fantastic overview of some of Chicago's iconic downtown buildings, among others the Wrigley Building, Chicago Athletic Association, Palmer House, Macy's, Target, Reliance Building, and The Cultural Center. Our guide, Liz, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. It was clear that she loves guiding tours. I've been on several of these walking tours and I've always had a great experience!

Wicker Park is amazing and gorgeous and this could have been a fabulous tour but for our docent, John. He mixed up dates several times and read a fair amount of his notes but what was truly disappointing was that we couldn’t hear him because he kept turning around to face the buildings instead of the group. The fourth time someone reminded him that we couldn’t hear when he was facing away from us, we were done. I too take this tour again with another docent because it could be terrific.

Susan was a great docent. She was very detailed and passionate about the tour and was very willing to answer questions. The tour itself went through a few buildings of significance and was very informative and worthwhile. Parts of it are outside but it’s only a couple of blocks walk between sites.

DELTA did a terrific job giving us a tour of the inland steel building. We learned a lot and enjoyed the tour very much. She is very knowledgeable about this building.

The Berwyn Bungalows by Bus tour was excellent! We viewed a variety of different types of bungalows, and learned about their history. The docents (Rose, Beth, Larry and Hannah) did an excellent job of leading the tour. Highly recommend!

Delta was our tour guide and she was wonderful. The slide show presentation is great for learning about the important players and seeing many of the former structures built for the fair that no longer exist. The bus is very comfortable. We were guided along the trip, learning how some additional buildings we passed by tied into the history of the fair. We stopped and got off the bus a few times for better vantage points with brief walks. The focus is much more on the history of the 1893 world’s fair, with occasional mentions of the serial killer. The fair and how it lead to the design of modern day Chicago is really at the center of the whole tour.

We were debating between the crowded boat tours and a walking tour. We opted for this tour and it was a wise choice - we ended up as the only 2 people on the our! Steve, our guide/docent, provided great information and stories on the progression of the development of Chicago and it's skyscrapers.
It was an enjoyable and informative 90 minutes.

Have been on the Mag Mile so many times, but never noticed all the beautiful architecture styles. Sandy did a wonderful job showing us the sites, along with fascinating trivia. Thank you!

We loved the tour and our tour guide, Alice. She knew a lot of the history of the building. Thank you so much for the educational tour.

This tour was excellent. I learned a lot and the art deco lobbies that are viewed are amazing. Cynthia was an excellent docent- enthusiastic, knowledgeable, upbeat, friendly. I would highly recommend this tour - especially if you like art deco opulence!!

This was an outstanding tour! Chris was our guide and he did an incredible job. This was such a great way to see Chicago. I highly recommend!

We did the Graceland Cemetery tour with the docent Tom. He was great, very interactive, easy to hear, friendly. Definitely recommend.

Fabulous tour. Mitch was an excellent docent. Very informative, we came away with a greater appreciation for Art Deco design gmail and the history of Chicago.

The tour was "Columbia College: Revitalizing the South Loop." Our guide, MaryJo, was extremely informative and dynamic, conveying the significance of each building in relation to the South Loop's history and revitalization from 1890 to the present. She explained important building regulations related to the Michigan Avenue Street Wall, facts about printing's history, and Columbia's unique programs.

Most enjoyable and informative. Perfect to do earlier in your trip.
Super knowledgeable guide Ron. Very nice and personable.
The tour focuses on the evolution of styles of the magnificent architecture up the stretch known as the magnificent mile.
Lots of extra tips and guidance for your stay in the city to booth.
The best compliment I can give is that the tour is very interesting indeed.
I recommend this.

We did the “Mies and Modernism” tour on the IIT campus. Our guide Matt (who did the walking tour of Chinatown we did several years ago) was excellent again. Although the focus of the tour was the architecture of Mies van der Rohe and his career at IIT, we also saw campus buildings that illustrate other versions and of modernism. Equally important, we learned a lot about the history of the neighborhood and of IIT. All in all, a fascinating tour with a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Highly recommended!

It was a wonderful tour of the city. We went on a time machine to late 18th century Chicago and learnt a lot about it's history and architecture.

We took the 90 minute Chicago Architecture boat tour with onboard the First Lady with Chris as our tour guide. Chris was very knowledges about the many, many skyscrapers and Chicago history. The tour was very informative and fun.

This was a terrific tour - very informative, interesting and fun. The docent, Darcy, was outstanding, confident, articulate, fun, friendly and really knows her material!

We toured the architecture center, good way to spend a couple of hours and learn about projects. Enjoyed the Ukraine exhibit.

I took the tour with a group of longtime friends from my college days. The tour guide, Larry LaVoie, was outstanding. His knowledge of the buildings and his style of presentation was both informative and entertaining. I would strongly recommend this tour and guide; I will also consider other tours that Larry would be conducting.

A brilliant tour with Paul. We covered the best buildings and outdoor art in 2 hours. He was an amazing guide and delivered so much information in this short time. Chicago is incredible and the tour a must for anyone interested in architecture, history and design

This tour is a must do, especially during the Christmas holidays. Our guide, Pris, was fabulous - articulate, enthusiastic, funny, friendly and SO knowledgeable! We got to see several of the hotel’s areas- the Empire Room, the State and Grand Ballrooms, the Red Lacquer Room and much, much more. The lobby is jaw dropping!

My husband and I loved this tour. Paul was our docent and you can tell how much he loved Chicago. He pointed out many architectural details that we would have missed our own. Chicago has a lot of buildings to see and this tour was a good overview for first timers like us.

ABSOLUTELY GREAT EXPERIENCE ♡♡♡♡
TREMENDOUS INFORMATION, GREAT COMMODORES!!!! I plan to schedule more CAC tours...

Our tour guide, Christopher, was extremely knowledgeable of the city and its architecture. He made the tour a fun experience for my group of 4 (visiting from Houston).

Our guide was excellent. He had a background in city planning and was very insightful and interesting. Described unique features of Chicago buildings that brought out the rich history and beauty of the city. Would highly recommend

Visitait as awesome, guide Wayne was as friendly as knowledgeable and took time to answer each of our questions questions. Wayne was able to share his passion of the city and architecture.

My husband and I live in Michigan. A friend from Texas was in Chicago for business in early July. He extended his trip by a few days and we met up with him there. This tour was our first sightseeing activity, and, wouldn't you know, it rained! However, Bill Coffin, our tour guide, did not let the rain (which luckily was light) dampen our spirits. The group was small (maybe 8 or 10). Bill facilitated introductions and made everyone feel welcome. The tour started at 30 N LaSalle and ended at the Chicago Board of Trade building. A good part of the tour was outside. When he could, he had us stand in sheltered areas. The tour was about an hour and a half long. The buildings were beautiful. Bill was knowledgeable and informative, not only on the buildings on the tour, but also on art deco architecture in other cities. We enjoyed the tour very much. I would highly recommend this tour.

I took the Fulton Market tour and it was FANTASTIC! I’m a Chicagoan, but knew very little about Fulton Market’s history. My grandfather worked here in the early 1900s and I’ve always wanted to know more about the area. The tour guide had pictures of building during that time and would show them while viewing the same building today. He would explain the architecture and reuse of the building. Thank you!!

Interesting and informative tour. Suggest taking the longer option. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our many questions. This site is a must for those folks wanting to understand the evolution of design that Wright embarked upon during his lengthy career.

Thanks to Ron Roman, our tour guide, for giving our group a great tour of art deco buildings! I’ve lived in Chicago for decades and still hadn’t seen many things on the tour.

Great introduction to Art Deco skyscrapers
And we're from Chicago!
We worked in the Loop for years and really never noticed the buildings, much less understood the significance.

Bill presented the history and building information in a wonderful knowledgeable and enjoyable manner!
We thoroughly appreciated his kind, thoughtful, and informative delivery!

Holly was great, kept us moving, had interesting material and wove it together well under the theme of the Mag Mile thru history - what it looked like 100 years ago, current architecture ( both with appropriate building examples), and some comments on what the future might hold. Holly also made sure we had some opportunities to either escape a very frigid wind or step into a building to warm up.

A very fun and educational tour! David was our tour guide and he was very knowledgeable. I learned so much about the architectural history of Chicago. What a beautiful city!

Bill was a wonderful tour guide! He was a font of information which he expertly shared with us. The Art Deco style is magnificent and I appreciated learning about it. Thank you!

Wayne was our tour guide and gave an excellent tour! We really got to see a lot of the historic sights and learnt a lot along the way. Highly recommend to anyone in the area to learn a bit more about the city!

Our architectural boat tour was very informative and beatiful. Our doson was Chris P. and he was very good. Thank you Chris. I'm a retired electrician and I enjoyed seeing g so many buildings that on worked in.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Art Deco Skyscrapers - Riverfront walking tour with Ron Roman. The buildings are, of course, magnificent and Ron was an excellent guide, full of interesting information not often found in general guides.

Our guide really took the time to explain everything : past, evolution and present. She answered all our tricky questions. This is a pretty extensive tour, count 2 hours. Best in the morning (smaller groups, and prettier light).

Although I have lived in Chicago for decades, the Chicago Architecture Center tours always illuminate and surprise me. This past weekend, I signed up for two very different tours: Brutalism-Concrete Made Beautiful (docent Tom) and Chicago Women Architects (docent Mary Jo).
Well, I NOW appreciate and admire the strength and raw elegance of concrete design. If not for this tour, I suspect that I would continue to ignorantly disdain Brutalist Architecture.
Today, I meandered around Chicago’s extraordinary River Walk on the Chicago Women Architects tour. OMG!
Architecture buffs know about Frank Lloyd Wright, but, it was the ingenue Marion Mahony Griffin who labored over drafting tables designing many of his Prairie style projects. How many of us know that Carol Ross Barney designed the serenely contemplative Chicago Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza? Of course, we can boast about our own Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects. The Aqua and St. Regis buildings are nothing less than spectacular!
Yes the Chicago Architecture Center tours will knock your socks off!

We took the CAC architecture boat tour, and Emily was our tour guide! She was amazing! It was at 2 pm on Labor Day and the boat was not crowded. 90 minute boat ride was perfect. We learned a lot from Emily. I would do this tour again when I am back in Chicago!
The tour is slightly more expensive but you get the most experienced people and you support the Chicago Architecture Center too.

Our guide Natali give a very capable summary of Chicago's classic buildings - some very noticeable and some easily missed among all that Chicago offers. Although us foreigners weren't familiar with many names we did indeed pick up the story. So enthused we re-traced our steps for a second look. Nice to have headsets to hear everything at a pleasant level.

Our tour met our expectations. Larry L took the time to give us all the necessary information to help us understand Art Deco. Our tour was joyful and enjoyed walking by and entering some of the 1920s buildings.

Our docent, Mitch, led us on an extremely informative and interesting tour of how the architecture of Chicago's buildings has changed through time. It was easy to hear him through the supplied microphone and earbuds. Highly recommend!

Super informative and well thought out walking tour of Must See architecture with Nancy yesterday! My family of three really enjoyed hearing the history and fun facts presented along the way. We ended at the Christkindlmarket which was a perfect way to conclude!

This was a fabulous introduction to the buildings and cityscape of downtown Chicago. Our guide Anna was friendly knowledgeable and fun. Even with a larger group, it was still a great experience and felt very personal. At 90 minutes long, it was the perfect length.

Very informative and a lot fun! The guide was very enthusiastic and well informed. A fantastic tour even though the temperature was 12 degrees

We didn’t know anything about Bohemian National Cemetery but we like cemetery tours and this one didn’t disappoint us. Our docent, Mary Jo Hoag, made the tour so interesting yet kept it light. The graves aren’t full of well known people in history yet there’s a lot of history to learn from the buildings to the headstones to the crematorium. Perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon.

Shirlee was knowledgeable, articulate and connected with out group very well. She's a keeper. Well done, prepared and executed. I would seek to join another tour with her

I had a fantastic tour with Anna who shared a lot of interesting information and insights into Chicago’s iconic buildings. The tour was a very good mixture of architecture, art and history of Chicago. The time passed quickly and I could have continued for much longer. I really enjoyed this tour and can only recommend doing it.

Great tour! Very interesting and Allison was a great guide! She knew many facts about every building we passed. She knew the answer to every question we inquired.

It was ok, not great. Took quite a while to get rolling with much talk outside the building. Docent's microphone failed mid tour and much of end was near trains so hard to hear. Maybe this was shared but would have been good to know finishes at Merch Mart which would have led to more strategic parking location. I'd recommend sky scraper tour and other art deco ahead of this one.

This was an amazing tour that connected the Civil War history at the cemetery with civil rights history there. Both confederate and union soldiers are buried there, as are Harold Washington, Jesse Owens, Ida B. Wells and of course many other prominent persons. Our guide provided us with fascinating details about who is buried there and the significance of the placement of certain headstones that only an expert CAC docent can provide. This tour is a must for any history buff!

This physical museum is not set up well. We did a 90 minute boat tour focusing on architecture so we learned a bit and were interested in learning more. We walked into this museum thinking we’d learn more. Instead it seemed geared toward architecture awards along with a model of the city and some facts about the Wrigley Field. The postcards on the wall in a huge room were cute but not helpful to learn about Chicago. They could’ve done so much more with this museum space and I considered it a FAIL as a tourist trying to learn about Chicago.
Meanwhile I see by other reviews that many people took “walking tours” which I wish the admission people (or even a sign in the museum) would’ve educated us about. That would’ve been far more interesting than this museum space. They do have a nice gift shop.

The Chicago Architecture: A walk-through time with Docent Erica Myles was a great experience. She was very knowledgeable.

This tour was wonderful. We visited 5 skyscrapers along LaSalle street, ending at the Board of Trade building. The tour traced the development of Art Deco style in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s. Robin gave an excellent historical overview and patiently answered our questions. It was particularly interesting to enter the lobbies of these excellent, well maintained buildings.

Our guide, Mary Ann S, was great. We had a very enriching experience and learned about all the decorative motifs on buildings along Wacker Drive and Michigan Ave which we’ve passed many times. She made history come alive with stories of how and why these great buildings were constructed between the world wars.

I went on the 2 hour walking tour called The Golden Age. We went down Michigan Ave and State St. I recommend this! The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. This tour is full of info about the great architects that rebuilt Chicago after the fire.

Chris was the tour guide on the architectural boat trip I booked and it was fantastic. 90 minutes full of great facts about the buildings and the city. Chris has a very pleasant way to moderate the tour. Thank you - can recommend!

We did the Bohemian National Cemetery tour with the ever amazing Mary Jo as our guide. We got there easily using public transport. The tree trunk head stones were very unusual. The history of the people buried there and the beautiful haunting statues that are dotted around made for a very interesting walk

Our tour guide was excellent , very knowledgeable , enthusiastic and friendly. The architecture was fantastic well worth taking the time out to see the exteriors and interiors of the art deco buildings.

We loved our tour with Amanda. She was super knowledgeable (and gracious with a difficult man on our tour!) Amanda made the tour fun and highlighted interesting facts about the buildings. 1 1/2 hours was the perfect length in this heat! Highly recommend

Michelle was an excellent tour guide! Truly couldn’t have asked for anyone more knowledgeable, flexible, enthusiastic, and responsive to the questions of the group. She was especially resilient in the Chicago corn sweat heat 😉 and I would go on another tour with her any day.

Really enjoyed this recently developed tour showcasing a magnificent era of residential development in Streeterville. Jeff’s insights and engaging personality made me forget it was a very cold day in December for an outside tour!

I thoroughly enjoyed the walking tour with Beth our tour guide. Beth was great at giving lots of interesting information about the architecture and the city of Chicago.

Wonderful tour to get to know Frank Lloyd Wright's work and become familiar with the Praire style. Vert nice and gentle guide. It's a worthy tour.

I did the must-see Chicago tour with Jon today, and it was truly excellent. Jon was absolutely fantastic — incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about the city. Even in the freezing cold, he kept the tour engaging and took extra time to explain every detail in a way that was easy to understand and really enjoyable. You can tell he loves what he does, and it makes the whole experience unforgettable.

I walked away with a whole new appreciation for Chicago. Highly recommend this tour — and especially Jon!

Excellent boat tour with good information, well presented by excellent docent Cynthia. Easy to hear. Wealth of information. Well worth doing. Being on the river gave great perspective of the buildings. History included.

Wonderful guide and great tour. Very interesting and informative. Our guide went above and beyond throughout the tour.

I had a really enjoyable time on the Art Deco tour. I live in a Chicago but I love being a tourist in my own city and learning the history here. These tours are perfect for those two things! John I. was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and funny. I will definitely book another tour soon.

Amazing experience, got to learn about present and current events in each building and learning the significance with Art Deco. Worth the trip.

Our guide was excellent. Knowledgeable, engaging, and willing to tailor the tour to our interests. Would recommend to anyone looking to explore Chicago!

This tour should have been called the Chicago Worlds Fair Tour, because that is what it is entirely about. Our guide, Liz, was Wonderful. At the end we learned she was a volunteer. At $50 a ticket, the architecture center should be able to employ guides and provide them with audio equipment! We couldnt hear anything Liz said on the bus because the audio did not come through the bus speakers, she was wearing a small box that didnt work very well. I felt so bad for her, but no one on the bus could hear except those sitting in front. Also, she had to keep telling the bus driver where to go (as if this was his first time doing the tour). THe tour started with a presentation in a lecture hall, so that part was good and able to be heard. There were two walking stops, very informative, but all in all not a very good tour for the price.

We had the opportunity to do the Walk through Time Tour with a guide who narrates it in SPANISH! Tony was our guide and is very knowledgeable about the subject and does so as a teaching volunteer at the Chicago Architecture Center. We learned a lot from Chicago’s history by walking through downtown streets and visiting buildings that showcase the changes in architectural styles over the past 150 years! If someone wants to do the tour narrated in Spanish be sure to search and select that option when buying tickets. Super Recommended!

Toured Lake Shore East neighborhood with CAC this past autum Saturday. I live in the area and worked here once upon a time as well, so was interested to learn more its history and evolution. Our guide, Pris, was well-informed and very enthusiastic. She pointed out so many important details on some of the area structures that I wouldn't have noticed on my own. It was fun to hear about Illinois native Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang and how she designed two of Chicago's most iconic buildings in the last 20 years. The tour lasted about 90 minutes and was concentrated in a small part of the city right near the CAC. A perfect choice for those with only a bit of time or with any walking limitations. The tour ends near the entrance to the Chicago River Walk, so you can head right away into another sightseeing venture. Or relax and refresh at one of the nearby places on the LSE park with coffee or ice cream. Ask your guide for more information.

Leslie did a great job covering the various forms of architecture on the Astor St. walk. Halloween decorations were a bonus.

Bart was a true wealth of information. He did a fantastic job and answered all of our questions. I highly recommend this tour

The tour was okay overall, but it felt like something was missing. While it was informative and well-organized, it leaned heavily toward a lecture-style presentation-more like a school field trip than an interactive experience. The guide was knowledgeable, but the delivery was a bit dry and didn’t quite bring the city’s rich history to life in an engaging way. I’ve taken other walking tours in Chicago that felt more dynamic and memorable, with better storytelling and opportunities to connect with the city’s energy. This one might suit someone looking for a more academic or structured overview, but if you're after something lively and immersive, this may fall a bit short.

We visited The Mart (The Merchandise Mart). It was only 45 minutes but it was good and our Docent Betsy B was knowledgeable. Only complaint (and this is not the first time I’ve noted this) is that the Docents are hard to hear. You only get headphones and the Docents only get microphones if you leave from the ACA - not for “neighborhood” tours. We do not need headphones but the Docents do need to have their own microphones. The ACA should provide them with them.

We had a wonderful tour with Alison, we would highly recommend taking this tour. I learned so much and saw some amazing buildings!

I've recently been to this tour and I loved it. Paul was incredibly well prepared and always ready to answer any question in an accurate way. I highly advice this tour, it was well worth it!

Excellent tour presented by Betsy and Quintin. The first 1/2 hour was a presentation at the center with plenty of slides and commentary.
Our comfortable bus then took us to Prarie Street where many of the wealthy lived before, during and after the 1893 World Fair. We walked the area, viewed and learned the history of the Glessner House, the Marshall Field Jr. mansion, then l board the bus and drove by Washington Park, Jackson Park, the Midway Plaisance and the still under construction Obama Presidential Library. The tour bus parked behind the Museum of Science and Industry and we walked to view the entrance used in 1893. We learned the history of the building and other buildings now lost to history. A short walk later we arrived at the Japanese garden located on the Wooded Island, which is a treasure all to itself.
I wished the tour would have included a drive by of where Holmes had his dwelling. I would have like to hear more about Holmes's past, his family and the trial. I will need to re-read the book again for that information.

Contrary to the docent's assertion, the inland steel building is not anchored on bedrock. Otherwise no negative comments;we enjoyed.

Very interesting tour. Thanks to Bob, I appreciate the beauty of Chicago’s architecture and architectural history even more. The interior’s you visit are hidden gems that you could easily pass by. Highly recommend this tour and will definitely do another tour on my next trip to Chicago. I guarantee you will learn something on this tour. Pro tip: look up. The top of the buildings are as amazing as the ground level.

This ia an important institution in town with lots of information on the history of architecture in the city, the. place where the skyscraper building was erected. So you will learn a lot and also be entertained by the fun history.

Excellent tour with Marcia who shared her immense knowledge with sympathy and making the tour very enjoyable. We learned details of the Loop skyscrapers designed with Art Deco. Un tour imperdible. Too bad we didn't get Availability (in covers) for other tours.

I took the CAC walking tour of Gold Coast: AstorStreet yesterday, 9/7/25, and it was wonderful. Burt, our tour leader was super knowledgeable, with many side stories of the different sites we visited. It was a wonderful seeing this beautiful part of my city. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and very highly recommend to all.

Laura

Great tour, learned so much about these Art Deco buildings. I have walked by these buildings hundreds of times and didn't even notice the details until they were pointed out.

Anthony was an excellent guide, made the history of the buildings come alive! Now I see all the elements we discussed referenced in so many buildings all around Chicago. LOVED the inside and outside aspects, the hidden lobby gems!

Interesting walking tour of the most historic quadrangle with the iconic deco buildings. The guide gives the opportunity to visit the lobbies describing the various decorations and dating each element and function of the time. Only in English but with a personal devise to be able to hear well enough despite the traffic

Maureen was a fabulous guide! Her knowledge was matched only by her passion for the architecture & history of Chicago. The pace was perfect not rushed or boringly slow. We saw everything we wanted to see and more that we didn’t expect. She also offered suggestions for great spots for amazing views to explore on our own. We strongly recommend that you use the Architecture Center for your walking & boat tours! They’re well priced & staffed with the best people! Unbelievably, they don’t take tips! (but they deserve them)

We thoroughly enjoyed the Women in Architecture Walking Tour. Mary Jo was a knowledgeable guide who offered helpful context all along the way.

Excellent well paced walking tour, with only 11 participants. Our guide, Allison was very knowledgeable and did a great job of pointing out the details of Art Deco skyscrapers and recounting their history. It was really fascinating and the buildings were so beautiful. Highly recommend this tour.

Terrific tour with Cynthia, who was extremely knowledgable and interesting. She kept us moving on a cold day, and did a good job of alternating indoor and outdoor spaces. Learned a lot!

A great tour guided by Ron R who pointed out features that we would never have appreciated and provided interesting facts about each building.

Ron Roman gave a fantastic tour! I learned interesting history about the buildings we saw and was dazzled by the beautiful art deco details in these hidden gems! It is so exciting to get a better look at buildings I've passed many times and not noticed all they have to show me.

Our tour guide Delta is obviously very knowledgable and excited about the Golden Age of Chicago architecture (1890s to 1930s). We saw examples of every decade in this timespan, and learned about the architects and rationale behind the designs. Very interesting and very informative. My favorite building was the 1927 (Art Deco) Carbide and Carbon Building in the shape of a green and gold champagne bottle.

We did the Chicago Pedway tour with Beth. The tour was excellent and it was so interesting to learn about the history of Chicago’s pedway system and travel through the different buildings. Highly recommend as a winter activity as it’s all indoors.

Excellent guided tour, with to the point explenations including facts, figures, interesting details ... all this without being becomes bored. Good pace through the downtown. Worth every cent.

Chicago Architecture Pedway Tour on Nov 20th, exceeded all my expectations. Docent Beth was outstanding! She provided an exceptionally informative and well paced experience, with such enthusiasm to a part of the city people overlook. Beth’s pride in Chicago is evident and contagious. Don’t miss this tour with Beth!

We did the river boat tour and also 2 walking tours. All the docents (Ellen, Mary Jane and Paul) were extremely knowledgeable and opened our eyes to the city landscape. Highly recommend taking a tour (or 2 or 3)

We went on the river cruise and it was amazing. Chris P (who volunteers for the non-profit CAC) was great in explaining the architecture around the river in the 90min boat tour. It’s an architectural and history lesson in one. Totally recommend for everyone visiting the city. It is 100% worth your time and money.

Sandy was an excellent docent and provided interesting details about the buildings and could answer any questions. The walk was at an easy pace and we were able to enter most of the buildings on the tour to view lobby designs.

If you are a first time visitor to Chicago like we were when we visited Chicago in early August, this is an excellent tour to see the iconic buildings and to learn about the interesting history and architectural styles. Our tour guide Ms. Mary Ann, who is a native of Chicago, did a wonderful job with keeping the tour interesting and relevant. Having a small group in our walking tour made it more engaging so we could ask questions. Ms.Mary Ann is very knowledgeable about the must see sights to see around the “Windy City”. We appreciated that she even gave us some recommendations for places to eat at, like Lou Malnati’s Pizzaria for good authentic deep dish pizza and Jimmy’s for good Chicago style hotdogs (we tried both places and definitely agree that they have great food and good service at both places.) We learned a lot about Chicago and look forward to our next visit to check out more sights that Ms. Mary Ann told us about that we didn’t get to see during our short visit. Thank you again for the great tour, Ms. Mary Ann!

Bill was fantastic: he spoke slowly , which was grear for us, as we are French, and accepted to answer any question . He depicted that golden age areas very weel both in historic settind and local one. He had many anecdotes . We did noth outdoor walking bit also a couple indoor visits and i really appreciated it.

Lori was an amazing guide. She is so knowledgeable about Chicago history and the architecture of the buildings. She w thoroughly enjoyed this tour and learned a lot about the city.

David Ferguson was an incredible knowledgeable guide and gave us quite the education. It was especially helpful as we did a river tour the following day and his insights from before really aided our enjoyment of the more lighthearted style of the second tour.

Our experience with this tour was terrible. We were on our way and received a phone call informing us that we were not able to go because they oversold the tour. We booked online and it indicated how many seats were available. I don't understand if you have a counter how it could be oversold. I don't understand why they waited until 45 minutes before our check in time to inform us of their mistake. This was very disappointing for our group. We were in town for our son's graduation from the Navy. We were all looking forward to this tour.

What a great addition to any trip to Chicago. Beautiful buildings that you marveled at from afar can now be seen from inside and out and you learn a great deal about the amazing history. Sandy was a great tour guide.

Rose was our guide and she did an excellent job of showing us Art Deco lobbies of buildings along the riverfront. A very enjoyable couple of hours.

Mary Ann did a terrific job. She is so knowledgeable and friendly. It was a very cold day but she covered everything and made the time go quickly. Loved her stories about the buildings we saw!

The tour was very informative. It exceeded my expectations. The duration of the tour was appropriate- not too short and not too long. I really enjoyed seeing all the different types of architecture and the history behind the buildings. The Tiffany pieces of art were jaw dropping gorgeous. Highly recommend.

The Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age was absolutely fantastic. Our guide, Christopher, was incredibly knowledgable and engaging. The selection of buildings we saw was perfect. Not only did we learn a great deal about the specific buildings, but we learned about the different architectural styles and the history of Chicago. I loved that we studied the outsides of buildings but then also went inside some of the buildings to see some amazing hidden gems.

The architectural tour on The First Lady was fantastic! Chris P. was an amazing tour guide who was extremely knowledgeable.

Michelle gave an excellent tour. These tours are a great way to learn about the city. She gave me things to look for when I walked around the city.

Wow! What a re-imagining! Our docent from the Chicago Architecture Center was such a knowledgable guide . Great downtown trip. Plan to have lunch afterward at the food court. Easy walk from Union Station, a bit farther from Ogilvie, but very do-able.

Admission to the Chicago Architectural Center is included with any tour. The exhibit has a great model display of Chicago and other iconic buildings. Worth a visit for any fans of architecture.

Mary Ann S. Was knowledgeable about so much history of Chicago. We are from Chicago and seen view point that you have never quite notice before .

We took an hour and a half thoroughly engaging and informative walking tour with Bob who was a font of knowledge about Art Deco, other architectural styles and Chicago history, too. It was a brisk day and only two of us were on the tour but being able to pop into buildings and see their interiors as well as their exteriors was a nice perk. The price was reasonable for the length of the tour - CAC volunteers provide such great tours.

Last week my partner and I took a tour of the Pedway with Alice and we had such a great time! We've lived in Chicago for over a year, and use the Pedway regularly, but learned so much throughout the tour. Alice was so great with her pacing, keeping us moving, always asking if there are questions, and seemed genuinely tickled to be leading us. The group was intimate, just 7 people and Alice, and very kind and respectful. Everyone that wanted to ask questions had time to ask them. This was our second walking tour with the Chicago Architecture Center and we've loved them so much that we've decided to become members in the new year. We are so lucky that this is a part of our city and can't wait to take friends and family when they are in town. One note for those who are talking the Pedway tour: wear light layers! We were dressed for a cold Chicago day and had to shlep our coats and sweaters around... we should have thought that through!

Wayne gave me a very nice, informative walking tour. I learned many interesting details of the buildings’ architecture and the land around.

My sister in law and I did the walking tour. Mitch did a great job giving information, stories and humor. We are both from Chicago, but learned so much more. I have been telling everyone about our wonderful experience.

Excellent tour. I learned a lot Darcy, the docent, was outstanding and really knows her material. She was warm, friendly, confident and knew how to tell a good story!

As usual, this tour was well “curated” by the CAC, and I enjoyed learning more about more recently built buildings as well as the large art installations for which the city is well known. Our docent, Paul, was excellent!

The city unfolded before us on the history tour in the most entertaining way, building by building, story by story with our tour guide, Wayne. Highly recommend this tour. I’m from Chicago and love being a tourist in my hometown!

We have been to several CAC walking tours and loved them all. This one stands out because it focuses on the more recent structures, while providing a comparison with the older ones. Mary Jo did an awesome job in the buildup to help us understand the historical influences and contrasts in style, construction technique, environmental factors and culture. Very informative and enjoyable! Highly recommended!

This is a perfect tour to introduce you to Art Deco architecture in Chicago. Filled with historical and cultural references of indigenous people, architects and business leaders. The layout of the tour is efficient; the tour guide is concise, well-read and engaging. This is a walking tour you won’t forget!

Mary Ann was a wonderful guide to some of the more hidden Art Deco treasures in the loop. We saw some old favorites and some brand-new-to-us spaces. Mary Ann was smart, thoughtful, engaging and knowledgeable. A great tour!

The Sheffield Rowhouses Tour was not listed! It was a treat of an experience. Beautiful Sheffield / DePaul was explored with great stories and architectural tidbits! The neighborhood is like stepping back in time!

Wonderful experience learning about the beautiful art deco building the great city of Chicago has. The tour guide, Mary Ann was very knowledgeable, informative and answered questions.

Although I’ve been on quite a few wonderful CAC walking tours in the past, the recent Evanston Lakefront walking tour was a disappointment — and did not compare with my prior positive experiences. The buildings and neighborhood themselves were interesting and quite lovely, the challenge in this case was unfortunately the docent.

The docent was apparently quite experienced with this tour, but surprisingly, read much of his script from a binder, with his head down so it was hard to hear or understand him at times. He would often turn his head when he was talking, or turn to look at the building he was describing — with his back to the group! I mentioned early on that it was impossible to hear him when he turned away and he apologized in the moment, but continued to do it. He never paused long enough to see if we had any questions, and often would just walk off and not turn around to see if we were close behind him.

This 2-hour tour was a lot of walking and since it was 80+ degrees and in hot sun, my friend and I finally just gave up and left the tour a little over an hour into it. We decided we could do our own DIY tour in cooler weather, learn just as much, and enjoy it more. Sorry to say, it was an overall disappointment for both of us.

Chris P. Gave an excellent tour and historical background about the El and its stations. Well done and depth of knowledge was impressive.

Darcy was a wealth of knowledge and made the tour very pleasant and interesting. We learned of some of the historic architectural gems that we would not have otherwise found, and her detailed inside information and recommendations for how to best enjoy the full experience were priceless.

Andrew led our tour. He was extremely knowledgeable and personable. You could tell he enjoys architecture and made you enjoy hearing about it. Overall a fun experience.

This was a fascinating tour. David was very knowledgeable. Loved learning about Chicago history.. What an incredible city.

This was a wonderful tour of the gold coast treasures. Guide knew about all the architects and owners. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Chicago icons tour was excellent ! We learnt so much things about Chicago's history ! Our guide Tom was fantastic ! I really recommend this tour !

Wonderful experience with perfect weather! Erica Myles was very knowledgeable. Definitely will do this with my family.

I did the women in architecture walking tour with Mary Jo. It was truly exceptional and provided insights into places I see and walk by all the time. Great historical perspective and really appreciate that all the docents write their own tours so they have a real passion for the subject matter.

Michelle P not only provided a history of Chicago architecture, but I learned a heck of a lot about architecture concepts like what does “Modernism “ mean as opposed to “post-modernism “ ( and a whole lot more).

The tour of Northwestern Univ. led by Larry was a comprehensive look at various types of architecture from gothic to modern to brutalist to rennaissance revival. Larry's extensive knowledge of the town, campus and architecture styles kept us engaged along the way.

Our tour guide, Anna, did a great job. She was very knowledgeable, and very enthusiastic about the subject. Highly recommend

The Elevated Architecture Tour gave us a new perspective of Chicago. Our guide showed us many unique buildings from the El platforms, and while riding the El, at a vantage point new to us. So wonderful to hear the history of how the El was developed, along with the history of Chicago and these fantastic buildings. Being from the area, we have walked below the El and heard its rumble several times, but this was an eye-opening experience for us. Highly recommend!
Read more about - Chicago City Tour: Elevated Architecture Tour with Train Ticket Included - https://www.viator.com/tours/Chicago/Chicago-Tour-Elevated-Architecture/d673-3173P21?m=65553&nid=VR.9ffbbab4-e835-4a7c-a1d0-bc7e9a60306c.VT_EMAIL_TRV?mcid=56757

I had a fantastic experience on the Art Deco Skyscrapers Loop Architecture tour with Alison. She is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging. Alison brought Chicago’s architecture to life with rich stories about the buildings, the history of the Art Deco movement, and the cultural context that shaped these stunning skyscrapers.

Great walking tour with so much explanation. Alice was the guide and she was wonderful. I loved the variety of buildings we were able to see.

This walking tour was wonderful. I have lived in the Chicago area for more than 30 years and I learned so much, saw so many new things, and discovered treasures of architecture and information that I had missed.

I even found new places to rest and enjoy the city that I had never known to exist.

When you’re here doing business or visiting, you don’t always pay attention to the very things in front of your eyes. You see things, but you don’t know what you’re seeing or understand how the pieces came together.

My tour guide, Donna, who told me she has been doing this as a volunteer for more than 30 years, knew so much about the buildings, the architecture, the architects, the materials used, the decisions made, and the politicians, developers, and executives involved in making things happen. And she shared what she knew in a friendly and informative way. She was prepared with historical photos showing what had been there before what is there now was there to demonstrate the transformations.

It became clear why there had been so little construction between the 1920’s and the 1950’s and why things were so different in the Modern Era. And she pieced together the political, economic, technological, and social trends shaping the development of Chicago at that time.

This tour is one of many offered by the Chicago Architecture Center. I highly recommend them to anyone visiting the city - or living in the area - to gain a better perspective of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one of centers of architectural progress.

Don’t miss these treasures!

The museum was overpriced for the lack of stuff they had. Maybe I had higher expectations going into it. I left feeling like it was lacking interactive exhibits and information was bland. Expected to spend no more than 30 minutes there.

This review is for the new tour, Columbia College: Revitalizing the South Loop, led by docent Lori. We thoroughly enjoyed the history and architectural stories highlighted by this tour. We previously did not realize how important a role Columbia College played in retaining and maintaining historical buildings in the South Loop. Lori did an outstanding job imparting this area's rich history to our group. This tour is a nice addition to the CAC's lineup. Thanks!

Our guide, Rose, was knowledgeable and engaging as she talked about the modern architecture buildings in Chicago. The pace was perfect as we walked around downtown. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to experience the city in a memorable way and to learn about the city's modern landmarks.

Such a fun way to learn about the city’s history, art, and everyday life. Plus, you get your steps in along the beautiful Riverwalk! Our guide, Jane, really knew her stuff and has been doing this for a while. She even had personal stories about some of the mural artists, which made it all feel super connected and real. Not just for tourists. Many locals also do it to see the city in a new light. Highly recommend!

We took the pedway tour based on the recommendation of staff at the architecture center and it was great! Our guide Beth is a long time local and knows so much. Her passion for the city, its architecture, and history was easy to see. She made it fun and we had lovely conversation with her and Kathleen, another volunteer preparing to give this tour in the future. You won’t regret taking this tour. You’re mostly indoors, and you get so see some lovely spaces that you’re unlikely to stumble upon otherwise.

Marcia gave us a beautiful tour of the Loop's gems, educating us knowledgeably about art deco in architecture. Her presentation was interactive, we moved at a satisfying clip, and she balanced exteriors with interiors, giving us perfectly timed breaks from the heat and practice identifying elements, materials, and economic and cultural significance. She ably and happily answered our questions, and we enjoyed a delightful, informative outing that we'll recall fondly. Thank you!

I really enjoyed the Columbia College: Revitalizing the South Loop tour today. Though I know the city well, I still saw it through a new perspective today and gained an appreciation of the way Columbia College has aided historic preservation. Extra fun to go in a couple of buildings!

Loved this tour with Bert. Looking at buildings from the L gives a perspective on buildings that you simply don’t get from the ground. Bert was very knowledgable and had a mass of interesting anecdotes. There are lots of tours to choose from and you get entry to the exhibitions at the Center.

Dan was an excellent tour guide, sharing interesting facts and information about the building of the city. We visited a good range of buildings and saw things we wouldn’t have spotted on our own. Well worth it.

A visit to Chicago should include a stop at the Center- centrally located near the corner of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue.

Here you will learn about the transformation of the city following the Fire and how it has become a world renowned center for architecture and commerce.

The Center’s exhibits are fun and informative. The walking tour are great. And the Center’s boat tours are the best.

(Don’t be fooled by the copycat tours of the many commercial companies offering boat rides with tour guides.)

The Center’s tours on the First Lady boats are far and beyond better than the others. The docents on the boats know their stuff and are experts, not actor/employees/comedians following the same script.

The Center is a great place to visit when you’re in Chicago.

By the way, if you’re in town for a convention and you are at the Hyatt Regency- you are just steps away from the Center. Take a short break and wander a half block down Wacker Drive and stop in at the Center. You may never go back to the boring convention hall!

This tour was so much fun and we learned a lot! Pat G was the BEST tour guide and was so knowledgeable. We will recommend this to friends for sure!

Very nice and useful professional and exceptional service and unique service and entertaining and informative and satisfying

Excellent tour that covers the must see architecture of Chicago. We couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide than Paul, he was very knowledgeable in everything Chicago and made our first visit to this lovely city very memorable!

Barbara was an excellent docent whose knowledge was interesting and informative. Easy pace and opportunity for questions and photos.

Our family (adult children) took the Architectural Boat Tour for the first time in August 2025. It was a fantastic experience. We all found it so fun and interesting. Our amazing tour guide Pat G. really elevated our experience. If it is possible to pick a tour guide in advance, I’d definitely recommend her!!!

Took a very educational tour of the specials and beautiful Fine Arts Building, a well preserved late 19th century arts studio and office building in the Loop. Our tour guide, Mary Jo, was extremely knowledgeable, and we learned a lot about the history of the building and the Chicago Renaissance. Building is still used for its original purpose. Be sure to go before they replace the original manual elevators! Highly recommended.

My friends and I enjoyed the river cruise at night so much. The architectures were amazing and the tour guide, Chris P was so knowledgeable and entertaining. We were really impressed with the tour and the beauty of downtown Chicago.

Pris was our tour guide and she was so informative. We all learned so much on our tour and had a lovely time together. I would book another tour with her!

Completely misleading! The tour does NOT include the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio tour. Under exclusions this tour operator should that bullet point. They should also add clear text to the description of the tour stating this.

Great tour. Mary Jo with her vast knowledge and insight enlightens you from past to present on the role women have in shaping the Chicago architecture landscape.
We do a lot of tours being members and this rates among one of the best!

Our volunteer docent, Mary Jo, gave a very thoughtful and interesting 90-minute tour of some of the new buildings constructed in the Streeterville and Lakeshore East neighborhoods. The route was well-planned and she offered a lot of unique perspective on the evolution of architectural styles in the city, what's currently being built, and the ways in which community organizers have played a big role in shaping the character of these neighborhoods through architectural details like green spaces, stoops, and balconies. I really liked the way that the tour placed buildings in conversation with each other - the tour built on itself as each building referenced, copied, or contrasted the last. I learned a ton and had a great walk as well!

The Astor Street tour with Shirlee was incredible! I knew it was a gorgeous neighborhood but was surprised at how much Shirlee shared that connected dots with other things I know about Chicago! So many different styles of architecture, so many famous architects, the rich history. Shirlee was an wonderful guide to it all!

I've only done the boat tours before, which were wonderful. The boat doesn't let you *into* buildings though. It also doesn't have the luxury of visiting the buildings in chronological order. This tour gave you both, and the volunteer docent was great. His enthusiasm for Chicago architecture is palpable, and quite contagious. Highly recommend this tour.

A wonderful tour of some amazing buildings. Great to walk in to the various skyscrapers and step back in time. Well worth the tour. Buy a membership if you want to do a few tours, great value.

Superb tour with guide David Ferguson!
David was thoroughly knowledgeable and informative, giving us detailed insights on the various buildings we walked by and went into.
Five stars plus!!

Outstanding tour of the Inland Steel building. I work here and this tour opened my eyes to all the cool features that went into the design

As a lifelong Chicagoan I learned so much on this tour. Our tour guide Maureen Waller was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic during the tour. I look forward to many more tours and just love our beautiful city!

We had an excellent hour and a half tour with Mark. Mark was a knowledgeable, experienced guide, and we learned so much about the history of architecture in Chicago.

We went on the river tour at dusk with threatening skies and we wondered if we should have tried to cancel. No need to worry! Chris P. was a fantastic guide and made sure everyone could hear him even if they needed to take a break in the warm downstairs area. Also, the city started to light up giving us a whole different and also beautiful view of Chicago! Can’t say enough how much we enjoyed this tour!

Mary Ann S. was a joy. You could feel her love for both Chicago and art-deco emanating from her. We were able to pass the art-deco test at the end of the tour. Like all CAC tours, you cannot go wrong… just be sure to wear your most comfortable walkers.

We did the Secretes of Grant Park with Docent Mary Jo who was exceptional with knowledge and the ability to project her voice so the entire group can hear her information. We learned more about Grant Park than I thought was possible. Very educational and enjoyable. Could definately do the tour again and would pick up a few more interesting seceetes.

We took the Columbia College — The Revitalization of the South Loop tour. Incredibly informative and Mary Jo was great!

My partner and I took the walking tour of Kenilworth. Our docent Bob was the best!! He was extremely knowledgeable and he did a great job of pointing out key similarities and differences in the various houses. We had a great time and we plan on taking this tour over and over.

I loved the "Civil War and Chicago's Role at Rosehill Cemetery" with our docent, Mary Jo. I have a greater understanding and appreciation of how Chicago's people were involved in the War.

Rose is an outstanding docent! Her modern architecture tour was informative, fun, and engaging. I’m a lifelong Chicagoan and learned so much about our city!

We enjoyed the tour very much. Our guide, Cynthia, was knowledgeable and very helpful. We found the buildings beautiful.

On October 13, 2025 we took a walking tour of Ukrainian Village, an historic neighborhood in Chicago. Our tour guide was excellent. She was very knowlegeable and spoke clearly to all. in spite of our large group. We also had a deacon from the Ukrainian Catholic Church give us all an excellent tour of the magnificent architecture and history of his church. We walked the neighborhood and the guide pointed out the different aspects of architecture from the former worker's cottages to the soaring spires and onion domes of the churches. It was 2 hours and it was a beautiful fall day so we took in the Halloween decorations as well.

Maureen was well prepared, articulate such that a very hard of hearing guy clearly understood her. Kiddos to the technology too which seemed better than my last walking your about 8 years ago. Huge at Deco fan so this was a great experience

The Chicago Architecture: Graceland
cemetery tour is possibly my favorite tour out of the dozens we’ve done. Allison was an excellent docent.

Excellent tour with Docent Tom, entitles Graceland Cemetery: Women of Influence!! This was a unique and insightful twist from the standard Graceland Cemetery tour, focused on the Women who shaped the culture of Chicago. These are strong women whose stories are not often even told and whose names are not commonly recognized. But Chicago is wealthier for their works and lives. I've never been let down by anything the Chicago Architecture Center curated, and today's tour only adds to CAC's perfect record! Thank you to Tom for all the learning of today.

Great tour. Learned a lot, and had a wonderful time! Tour guide Mary Jo was very knowledgeable, personable, and enthusiastic. Highly recommend it!

We walked the Art Deco Skyscrapers: the Riverfront tour. Despite it being a cold winter day, we kept warm with multiple stops inside the buildings. The tour was fascinating with many special buildings and features and we learned so much about Art Deco and the history of Chicago in the 1920's. Maureen the tour guide was so knowledgeable and taught us with a smile. This is my 4th walking tour and they have all been great.

Burt was a treasure! So knowledgeable, with great stories and details of the outside and inside of these remarkable places. What a fun and enriching way to pass the afternoon!

I went on the Art Deco Skyscrapers - loop tour with a friend who was in town for business - we were celebrating her birthday. It was an excellent experience, despite the drizzly rain. The tour guide, Cynthia was very knowledgeable, worked hard to make sure everyone could hear and answered our many questions. I'm glad the tour was 1.5 hrs - I felt like we really got to see alot. I love art deco and architecture and learned a ton about the history of the period and the style. Enjoyed this immensely. I'm glad it was a small group outing and would love to do another tour in the future.

Anna was very knowledgeable, kind, engaging and entertaining. We learned a lot and enjoyed every minute of it. A must in Chicago!

The tour docent Bill C. is engaging, fun and knowledgeable. His passion for the art deco period and teaching others comes through his tour. We had a great time seeing the landmarks and meeting other like minded people. Right in the heart of downtown there is much to do before and after the tour as well

Charles was a super guide. Knowledgeable and friendly. We were less impressed with the staff at the CAC office who were unable to help us connect with Charles when we went to the wrong starting point after not receiving a confirmation email.

Fantastic tour and our guide, Mary Anne, was excellent. We learned a lot of interesting history of the art deco era in Chicago and how to recognize some of the key features on the buildings. The lobbies were gorgeous.

The Walk Through Time tour was very enjoyable. Our guide, Charles, was very good at directing our attention to the historically notable buildings amidst the multitude of interesting structures in and just north of the Loop. He not only pointed out the details but also gave us the stories behind them.

Excellent tour of some historic skyscrapers in downtown Chicago. The docent was very knowledgeable about the history of skyscrapers and was able to point out building details that I would have missed on my own. Highly recommend.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour of Chicago treasures. Jessica did an outstanding job of conveying all the facts in a professional yet fun manner. I highly recommend taking one of these tours.

The tour of Union Station with Robin S. Was fabulous! Robin S. Is informative, seasoned, and engages with each participant individually. The station is beautiful and steeped in history, which Robin thoroughly and elegantly led us through. Thank you again Robin S and Chicago Architecture Center !

Our tour guide Mary Jo was very informative, she speaks with the architects about their buildings for a personal insight.
Learning about how the new architecture builds off the old, how it impacts the neighborhood and the skyline is impressive.
I would recommend this tour to anyone.

Loved the tour. Cynthia really kept us engaged. The art deco buildings are really worth seeing. The group wasn't too big so it made it more personal. Cynthia was ready to answer any questions.

It is interesting and the tour is well guided. But since I'm not an architect, at some times I found myself very technical, I got a little lost.

Our group had such an excellent time! Some of us had done Architecture Center tours before and Mark, our guide, lived up to their other guides’ stellar reputation. The quality for the amount you pay is unmatched, and I 100% recommend any of the tours run by them.

A good introductory tour of the buildings from Chicago's 'golden era' from 1890 - 1930. A nice walk about town and lots of good information about Chicago, architectural styles and architects.

Very knowledgeable docent who brought to life stories of people buried in the cemetary.
I found out there was a monument to Confederate soldiers and also to Union soldiers.

Informative, good variety of architectural styles…fascinating your guide….great day in the city……………………………………..

Matt was our tour leader on the Chinatown Chicago Architecture Center tour and was fabulous! He provided interesting facts about the community interlaced with Chinese history and architecture. He was knowledgeable and shared his knowledge in an interesting and entertaining manner! I highly recommend this tour and if you're lucky enough to get Matt consider yourself blessed!!! Wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

Larry did an amazing
Job showing us around. His passion for modern architecture shines through the tour. Also his anecdotal stories are
Much appreciated and bring more life to the tour.

Fascinating tour. Our guide had an amazing depth of knowledge and enthusiastic in her presentation. It was the perfect tour for a cold day since we got to go inside buildings as part of the tour. I would highly recommend this tour.

The exact name of the Tour was Modernism: reviving the Loop.
It was a great walk tour, Paul is passionated by his subject. Even if it was raining, he took the time to explain everything to us.
We really enjoyed the tour and he gave us good recommendations for our stay in Chicago.

A keen and enthusiastic volunteer, Bob Coffin lead our tour. It was very interesting and informative. It was a Sunday afternoon and lasted around an hour and a half. The city was quiet so it was easy to get around. We covered five main art deco buildings in the Loop and went inside four of them to see fabulously rich and opulent interior lobbies. If you are interested in Art Deco then this is the tour for you. Highly recommended.

A wonderful tour with the knowledgeable Alison! A must for those who love art deco architecture. We will definitely take another CAC walking tour on a future visit.

On June 17, my husband and I toured “Tiffany Treasures , lead by outstanding docent and history expert Siobhan H.
Siobhan shared fascinating insights into the design, construction and restoration of Chicago Tiffany works such as stained glass domes in the Chicago Cultural Center, the mosaics in the ceiling of Macy’s (the former Marshall Fields) and atrium of the Marquette Building.
An example of the captivating backstories Siobhan offered: Tiffany hired women to create the stained glass panels because the male-only union workers were on strike. Changing tastes deemed Tiffany works old-fashioned. Many were removed, haphazardly stored, or demolished.
This tour restored our hope that Chicago's remaining architectural Tiffany works can be viewed and appreciated.

Sandy B was very informative during our tour. It’s a great way to learn more about the city you live in, I learned to appreciate my surroundings more. After the tour, you find yourself looking up more often, admiring the works of art which are our city’s buildings.

The building and it's history are amazing. It was difficult to hear our docent sometimes. On other tours we had ear pieces that made it so we didn't miss anything. At one point, we moved away from another Chicago Architecture tour group so we could hear better, and they promptly followed us.

This is a walking tour of homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright around the Oak Park neighborhood. The homes are privately owned but even though you don’t go inside, you can still learn a lot and admire his architecture. Jean was a very knowledgeable docent and you can tell that she enjoyed giving this tour. We learned so much and left with a better appreciation of his details. Recommended for anyone who is a fan of his architecture.

Such an amazing tour! The Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time hosted by Erica Myles was a great way to experience Chicago history through the eyes of an expert. A must for anyone coming in from out of town or for those who just want to know more about this city!

Tour guide Wayne was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and very passionate. Although I have lived in Chicago all my life, learned so much on this tour. Wayne even had a lot of early pictures of the city and buildings to show us. Will now see our beautiful city in a whole new light. Highly recommend this tour.

The architecture cruise on the Chicago River with Chris (from First Lady) was very impressive and interesting.
Chris gave so much detail, history and information about the various buildings, river branches and districts and their development. Simply impressive! I can only recommend this ride to every visitor to Chicago. The whole crew was very friendly and hospitable. Always happy!

Chris P was excellent. Family enjoyed very much the balance of walking and riding the El around the loop. We had lived in Chicago a number of years ago and learned a lot of history and facts we never knew. It was a great pace and we enjoyed it very much.

Fantastic! Really learned a lot. Our Docent, Erica Myles, was super knowledgeable and fun! She knows her stuff, for sure.
GREAT experience!

I loved every minute of the tour! Our guide, Paul S., was very knowledgeable, and made the tour both educational and lots of fun.

Two visiting friends and I did the Grant Park Secrets tour, with Debra as our docent. She was excellent, well-researched, clear and easy to understand, and overall engaging. Even though I've lived in Chicago for 45 years, I learned so much for this tour, and discovered gardens and sculptures that I never knew existed in Grant Park. Highly recommend!

This was a fabulous tour. Mary Jo was so prepared and knowledgeable and engaging. We had a beautiful day for a walk and tour. This is one of the best tours I’ve been on with Chicago Architecture Center.

Gold Coast - Exceptional Tour Guide!
We toured the Gold Coast with Susan as our guide, she was fantastic. She really knows her architecture—she explained all the cool stuff about the buildings we saw, but in a way that was easy to understand and interesting. You could tell she’s super passionate about it, which made the whole tour way more fun. We appreciated how kind and attentive she was. Susan made sure everyone felt included.

Tremendous tour! Our guide Barry is very knowledgeable and is truly an educator. The group was great, so interested and friendly. Makes Chicago really stand out as an art deco center, especially the symbolism centered around agriculture and commerce. Many thanks.

I took the 1.5 hour tour of the Gold Coast, more specifically, Astor Street. Yes, you can spend that amount of time covering four blocks of one of Chicago’s most interesting historical areas. Famous architects, titans of industry, religious leaders and social status. I learned a lot about the area and the docent, Leslie, was great — well versed and engaging. Toward the end of the tour we saw a very different looking house by Sullivan. I do think this was an opportunity to put more context around the critical transition from traditional design styles of the past to Chicago’s role in new, forward architectural styles of the next 100+ years. Prairie, Art Deco, Modern skyscrapers, etc.

I had a private tour with my guide Delta who narrated the beginning of Mies Van Der and his architectural legacy around the city . She also showed me architectural modern masterpieces like the Inland steel bldg including the lobby , explaining both its materiality as well as its historic context . Overall it was a wonderful tour with a very informative tour guide who gave me her best for the time spent . Keep the good work going !!!!

Burt was a wealth of knowledge and a fantastic guide, vividly bringing the architecture and Chicago of old to life. A fantastic way to spend a summer Sunday.

Paul was our guide. He was super friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and had a sense of humor. He even took us to see a special mosaic which was fabulous! Highly recommend!

We joined the Historic Treasures tour of the Chicago Architecture Center on August 26th at 10:30 am with Bárbara B. as our guide, and it was an unforgettable experience!

Bárbara B. was absolutely amazing—super knowledgeable, friendly, and full of stories that made the city come alive. She took us through stunning buildings, showed us hidden corners of Chicago we would have never found on our own, and explained everything in such an engaging way.

This tour ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. I’ll definitely recommend the Chicago Architecture Center to anyone visiting Chicago—but especially the tours with Bárbara B. She’s truly exceptional!

The walking tours (and boat tour) offered by the CAC are an absolute must for anyone visiting Chicago who is interested in architecture, history, or just wants to discover the city. While I only had a chance to do one walking tour on this trip, I previously took multiple walking tours offered by the CAC during a trip to Chicago in 2011. The volunteers who run the tours are extremely knowledgeable, and the tours themselves are very well organized. I guarantee you will come away from each tour with new knowledge and a greater appreciation for one of America’s best cities.

Delta was phenomenal for the Board of Trade tour! I’ve done many tours and recommend them to anyone wanting to get a better history lesson on the buildings in Chicago

This was a wonderful walking tour with Cynthia Bates. She was so informative and gave a very organized presentation. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in Art Deco architecture.

It was informative and covered some interesting historical facts, but overall it felt a bit bland and lacked the energy or storytelling that makes a tour really memorable. Still, it's a decent option if you're into history and want a quieter, more traditional walking tour.

Beth was a great tour guide. She was very knowledgeable about Chicago. Her style was great and the tour gives you a great knowledge about the place when you first arrive. Highly recommend

The Tour was terrific. I only wish we walked one block further to see the Calder sculpture.
But, we covered a lot. And, Michelle our guide was exceptional. SO knowledgeable & sweet.

Our tour guide, Larry, was very friendly and knowledgeable. He knew so much about each building/landmark we visited! His love of Chicago was evident and infectious. My friends and I were so impressed.

I especially loved the Carbide and Carbon building with its unique design and 24-karat gold features. So much is on this tour - from classical architecture to the more recent and beautiful Aqua building designed by Jeanne Gang. Larry brought personal Chicago history to this tour.

Tour of women’s graves at Graceland Cemetery. Very interesting selection of women who made a difference in Chicago and world wide. The guide clearly cared about the place and was friendly. Could have more depth in the stories and occasional errors, e.g. women did not go to Harvard in the 19th century and McCormick went to MIT.

I went on the August 9th walking tour of the Ukrainian Village, and it was easily one of the best tours I've taken with CAC. I am not one to write reviews normally, but my guide mentioned that this tour had not been offered in some time, and I really hope the center continues to offer it, it is absolutely a hidden gem. Both my Mother, a visitor from out of town, and myself, a Chicago resident learned a lot and had a wonderful time, the highlight being a visit inside Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church. I'd attach a photo but I don't want to ruin the experience of stepping into that beautiful building for the first time. Victoria was absolutely fantastic, friendly, personable, and a deep well of knowledge, referencing the sanborn fire insurance maps mid tour was enough to seal this as one of the best walking tours I've taken.

The 2-hour historic treasures tour was a great experience. Our docent, Delta, did a great job and was very knowledgeable about the "Golden Age" and buildings in Chicago. If you enjoy architecture this is the tour for you.

Our docent was well informed and enjoyable to listen to. We learned so much today about the inland steel building! Do not miss this tour!

I booked this tour for the exercise and a few years back I done the architectural boat tour and wanted something a bit different. It was a two hour walk but with many breaks for discussions about the buildings we were admiring. Meg our guide was amazing and so knowledgable. I learned so much and the personal touch you get walking with the guide verses the boat was amazing. We did get to go into a few of the buildings we discussed which gave us more history and knowledge. For those where we didn't have time to go into Meg encouraged us to go in on our own as many are hotels and what to look for in those lobbies.

Chicago is a beautiful city and it was a nice way to learn more about each building and their history. And if you decide on something different or the boat tour instead make sure you always look up when you walk into one of the magnificent buildings. You might get a nice surprise! (Thank you Meg for that tip)

The tour was exceptional, and our guide was knowledgeable, informative, enthusiastic and very pleasant to be with. I'm sorry that my wife and I cannot remember her name, but she did a wonderful job.

Paul did an excellent job as our docent and made the tour so interesting and enjoyable. We have done many of the CAC walking tours and always have such a great experience -and learn so much about our beautiful city! It is our favorite activity to do with friends and family who are visiting Chicago.

Fabulous! Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable and the buildings were spectacular. One of our very favorite things about our trip to Chicago.

Outstanding, well-informed and engaging docents! Erica Myles is incredible. Very interesting, and love learning the history about things I've seen for years.

This was an awesome architecture trip. We learnt a lot and it was a fun experience. A very good boat tour. We also did the museum visit which was informative.

Cynthia was great. A wealth of information and a trooper given the rainy day. I look at buildings in Chicago with a new appreciation and understanding. Thanks to Cynthia’s informative commentary.

We made the architectural tour by boat. The guide was excellent, very sharp on architecture. His live commentary was very interesting. There were four of us, all enthusiastic as we left the boat. We learned a lot and enjoyed the buildings. This trick is definitely worth it.

The tour docent was very informative, the buildings on the tour were excellent examples of Chicago’s art deco buildings, and many photos were taken. This tour is recommended for any fan of architecture, and particularly of art deco architecture.

Cynthia was an engaging and knowledgeable guide. The buildings, particularly the interiors were very impressive and beautiful. The L and other noises provided competition for hearing, but Cynthia managed to overcome it.

Took the Pedway walking tour. It was so cool! I’ve to parts of the Pedway but not the full experience! Thanks Ellen , great job!

I took this tour with Mitch, and it was so interesting! His explanations were clear and organized, yet he truly tailored the experience to his audience (and in consideration of the cold weather!). He was a wealth of information, with interesting facts and quotes. Now I can walk up and down Michigan Avenue enjoying the buildings I got to know through his tour.

Fantastic tour. 2 hours but flew by in a flash. Saw incredible architecture. Highlight was cultural center. Such a beautiful space. Paul, our guide was friendly, informative and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend. We have done their boat tour which was also great. Looking forward to more tours next time in town. Learned that you should look up otherwise yiy might miss beautiful things

Rose was very personable, knowledgeable and in general excellent. Likable. The architecture walk was not overwhelming, it was just right. Rose covered the main aspects of architectural buildings that demonstrated the changes in design and covered those design changes through 1920 to 2010. Enjoyed it.

Docent Sonia was friendly, knowledgeable, professional. Had a great time! Since my review must be at least 100 words, here it is!

Wow! So informative and knowledgeable. Learning about the differenes of old and new, learning about LEED Gold, the impact SOAR has and just stepping back to admire. Thank you!

The guide is knowledgeable, witty and engaging. Loved the format — getting on and off the L to see diverse parts of the loop. As always, another excellent experience at the CAC.

Architectural Boat tour. Our guide Chris P was very knowledgeable along with engaging. I would highly recommend to all

We had such a great time on the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise! Our guide, Chris P., was awesome — super knowledgeable, and made the whole tour really interesting. The views were amazing, and we learned so much about the buildings. Definitely recommend this cruise if you want to see Chicago from a new angle!

We took this tour of downtown buildings built in the Art Deco style. Our humorous guide Charles was knowledgeable about not only the architecture, but also the history of the city and region. We saw 5 buildings inside and out and heard about several others along the way. Great stories! Great tour!

Great docent, very knowledgeable. Learned a lot about my city. Especially the architect of the Marshall field’s building. Thank you!

We met our Guide Maureen – who’s a rockstar at the architecture design center where you get your headset and earphones to set out on our tour. It was the perfect length and she shared such specific details and made the tour so interesting with each place we visited. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was clear how much she loved what she’s doing. We’ve been on several tours and thought this was the best one yet. When I especially liked was the attention to detail and how much she shared about picking out the art deco details. Highly recommend.

A great look at architecture I have walked past a million times but never really noticed. This was a good companion tour to the CAC architectural boat tour.

Mary Jo was great- she was knowledgeable and friendly. Her tour was well organized. I learned a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

We had a great experience on the Pedway tour with Alice. She was very knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting facts, all with a great sense of humor that made the tour fun and engaging.
I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to learn about Chicago’s history while also getting useful, practical information on how to navigate the city—especially when it’s cold, hot, rainy, or snowy, since the Pedway connects so much of downtown.
One thing to be aware of: there are quite a few stairs in some areas, and not all locations have elevators or escalators.

Wonderful tour of historic women of Chicago. Graceland Cemetery is beautiful. 2 hr walking tour with the wide range of influential women of Chicago. Bathroom in visitor center.

Such an awesome tour! We loved learning and walking the city with our docent Delta. She was super knowledgeable about architecture and the beautiful city of Chicago!

What a wonderful tour. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the city better. Our tour guide... Cindy is very knowledgeable. It was just me and my son for the tour so it was extra special with Cindy sharing so much information off script. It is lovely to see the passion of the volunteers who help conduct these tours. I think it is the best way to start your visit to chicago.

We did a pedestrian tour with CAC and was able to use that for admission into the Chicago architecture center. It’s was nice. Had a video of Chicago and a nice mini replica of city and Wrigley field. The exhibit upstairs was really interesting.. “ The disappointed tourist” by Ellen Harvey

Had a wonderful tour of the old post office building. Our guide, Alice, was very knowledgeable about all the historical and architectural facts! Highly recommend visiting- the rooftop was magnificent!

We had a great experience! Our guide Charles G was knowledgeable, entertaining, and sensitive to each of our respective info needs. We especially enjoyed touring both the exterior and interior of the buildings. We came away with a new appreciation of Art Deco style, designs, and historical context. Would highly recommend.

wary Ann was excellent guide and very knowledgeable. She Was able to provide just the right level of details about the Art Deco buildings along the river. The tour was the right length where we saw several buildings but was not overly long at 90 minutes. It helped me better understand the key elements of the Art Deco style.

Chris was amazing with his guidance during the boat tour. Really appreciate his depth of knowledge and passion for Chicago’s architecture! Great job Chris, definitely recommend 🙌🏻

We took the Modernism: Reviving the Loop tour with Ed. Ed has a deep understanding of the era, the history, and the individual Modernist buildings in and around the Loop. Chicago has a real diversity of Modernist structures in a very compact district. And the connection of each building and project to Chicago's history from the mid-50s to the early 70s really comes alive as you walk the area. As a retired architect, Ed shared his passion and technical knowledge, making this tour a must see for any visitor or resident.

Excellent tour guided by very knowledgeable docent Mary Jo. Lots of interesting Chicago history covered on our Juneteenth tour date. Well worth a visit.