Chicago Walking Tour: Historic Skyscrapers in Chicago booking from $30.00

Chicago Walking Tour: Historic Skyscrapers

Overview

Chicago is home to some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century marvels, learn about innovations used to build them and discover how they transformed Chicago into a center of skyscraper design and engineering.

Highlights on this walking tour include Burnham and Root’s Rookery (1888), a transitional building with a Moorish and Romanesque exterior and a stunning interior atrium re-designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; Adler and Sullivan’s Auditorium Building (1889), a masterpiece of acoustical and structural engineering; and Holabird and Roche’s Marquette Building (1895), an outstanding example of the metal frame expression with traditional details and decorations.

City: Chicago

Sun 23 Feb

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Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

Sun 23 Feb

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center

Narration by a professional and certified Guide

Historic walking tour of Chicago's architecture

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour will depart from the Fine Arts Building, 410 S Michigan Ave.
Tour Guides are trained and certified by the CAC. As volunteers, they are exceptionally motivated, enthusiastic, and capable interpreters of Chicago's world-class architectural legacy. CAC tours are the real deal - narrated, but not scripted, led by Chicago enthusiasts.
Not recommended for young children.
Pets are not allowed.
Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change, due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
Your safety is our priority. The itinerary of this tour may be altered in accordance with health and safety policies and considerations.

What To Expect

Fine Arts Building

Meet here to start the tour.

Auditorium Building

View the building from the outside

The Rookery Building

View the building from the outside

Chicago Board of Trade Building

View the exterior of the building

Marquette Building

View the building from the outside

Monadnock Building

View the exterior of the building

Chicago Architecture Center

This building is not directly part of the tour, however, the tour ticket includes admission to the galleries at the Chicago Architecture Center

Show 4 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (52)

Cam_Me_2

Oct 2022

Beautiful fall day to walk Michigan Ave, State St, the Loop and admire the historic buildings of Chicago’s Golden Age. The 90 minute tour was fascinating, informative & fun with guide Amanda. She was so knowledgeable & helpful, giving us all kinds of facts & history - but also insider tidbits. She also had great recommendations for dining in the area. Thx CAC & Amanda for another great tour.

Response from Host

Oct 2022

Thank you for the great review! We're so happy that you enjoyed the tour and we hope to see you again soon.

Tico1923

Oct 2022

Fascinating tour of Chicago’s earliest skyscrapers, led by Anthony, our guide from the Chicago Architecture Center. He introduced us to buildings designed by renowned architects inc Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, William LeBaron Jenney & Frank Lloyd Wright, among others. Highlights for me included the Auditorium, Monadnock, Rookery & Marquette buildings. Interiors of the Rookery & Marquette (inc Tiffany mosaics!) were stunning. Tony was very engaging, fun & knowledgeable. He pointed out many design & architectural details that we would have otherwise missed, in addition to adding very interesting historical & technological context at each stop. Highly recommended!

Response from Host

Oct 2022

Thank you for the fantastic review! Sounds like you had a great tour. We hope to see you again soon!

Ineedtoknow

Jul 2022

Wonderful knowledgeable tour guide, Barbara Weiner, took us in and out of iconic Chicago buildings while pointing out different styles prominent through out Chicagos history from the great Chicago Fire, up until the present.

Response from Host

Jul 2022

Thank you for the great review! Barbara is an excellent guide. We hope to see you again soon!

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Chicago Walking Tour: Historic Skyscrapers

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