Chicago Architecture Center

"We are members and have been on many tours and today we did 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. Learning about the qualities that defines art deco today was interesting and she knew these buildings so well and helped us identify each of the qualities at each of the stop. I’ve never been in the Merchandise Mart before - now simply called the Mart was a wonderful final stop on our tour. Highly recommend!"

"Loved how they display the art pieces! When I went, they showcased Ellen Harvey’s The Disappointed Tourist exhibit, which really touched my heart. Her art piece captures little moments and places in history that people from all around missed the chance to see/revisit. After a week of exploring Chicago as it is now, encompassing this “tourist” identity, I realized I am a forever tourist in time, experiencing new things for the first time each time! After all, we are all living for the first time. I drew a little postcard of my vague memory of elementary/middle school, aka times where life felt simpler—a destination I can no longer reach."

"The Chicago Architecture Center offers a variety of tours. I went on the A Walk Through Time, where I learned about different styles of architecture. David Ferguson was our guide and he was extremely knowledgeable and answered questions that we had. I'm glad that the tour included headphones so I was able to hear, even with all the noise from construction! In the Chicago Architecture Center, there is an interactive model of Chicago, where you can learn about the city, famous architects, the Chicago fire, Chicago neighborhoods, etc...There is even a model of Wrigley Field and information about the history of the baseball field! Upstairs is an art display of famous landmarks and places that are no longer around."

"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."

"Highly recommend the Chicago Cultural Center museum!! They have a model reenactment of Chicago with a very enjoyable film plus a Wrigleyville exhibit downstairs. Then upstairs is an amazing exhibit called “The Disappointed Tourist” by Ellen Harvey with 300 beautiful paintings of buildings and places that no longer exist. We spent 1.5 hours here reading and observing everything, it’s $15 or only $5 if you take the First Lady River Cruise (best one in Chicago!!). Check out this museum, you’ll learn so much and have a fun time!"