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Discovering Vintage Chicago: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Loop

Discovering Vintage Chicago: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Loop

Overview

Amy Bizzarri, author of Discovering Vintage Chicago and 111 Places in Chicago That You Must Not Miss will take you on a fascinating journey to the timeless, classic spots that evoke the unique character of Chicago's Loop. It includes charming stories that tell you what each place is like now and how it got that way, from classic restaurants to shops and other establishments that still thrive today.

Major landmarks on this tour include the Berghoff Restaurant, the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, Macy's Department Store, The Chicago Theatre, The Chicago Cultural Center and Palmer House. The tour starts at The Art Institute of Chicago.

The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

City: Chicago

Mon 18 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $5.34

Make a reservation

Mon 18 Nov

Starting at $5.34

Make a reservation

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What's Included

VoiceMap Application

Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Lifetime access to Discovering Vintage Chicago: The Loop tour

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

The Art Institute of Chicago

The world class Art Institute of Chicago boasts over 260,000 masterpieces, from the mummy case of Paankhenamun to Grant Wood's American Gothic. Be sure to carve out some time during your visit to Chicago to check out the Art Institute's Impressionist collection: many of the paintings were acquired by Bertha Palmer in the years leading up to Chicago's Columbian Exposition.

Daley Bicentennial Plaza

Is the sculpture by Picasso in Daley Plaza a pigeon? A skeleton? A hungry insect? An Afghan hound? Theories abound but no one knows for sure exactly what Picasso intended to portray with his iconic, unnamed, 50 foot tall steel sculpture. The renowned artist never revealed what the statue represented.

The Chicago Theatre

The Chicago Theatre still stands as one of the city's best, and certainly most beautiful, entertainment venues. It was dubbed "the Wonder Theater of the World" when it opened on October 26, 1921, the first large, lavish movie palace in the U.S. Evening admission was just 50 cents.

Chicago Cultural Center

Not only is this one of Chicago's most popular arts venues, it’s also home to one of the most spectacular glass domes in the world. The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair launched the Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company onto the international stage. Their successful exhibition led to a number of important commissions in Chicago and beyond. Inside this very building, you’ll find a 38-foot Tiffany stained glass dome, the crown jewel of the Chicago Cultural Center.

Palmer House Hilton Historic Lobby

This hotel has had its home in the heart of the Loop for over 140 years, treating guests to opulent and gracious hospitality. Retail and real estate magnate Potter Palmer considered the Palmer House his crown jewel, which explains why he named it after himself. It was once touted as the largest hotel in the world, and the lobby has seen dignitaries, celebrities, and royalty come and go since it was established in 1871.

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Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews (1)

Monica_L

Nov 2019

If she is an expert why doesn't she tell us more? There were very many opportunities for info on history, locations, immigration, cultural events, etc. only a few things that we had not learned from other sources like the free pamphlets on Chicago. I am glad it was only $5 or we would have been really annoyed. also a lot of technical difficulties...might have been the towers etc.