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CHICAGO'S ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE TOUR®

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

Choose your adventure, chicago river architecture tour (90 minutes).

Take in the world-renowned architecture as our expert guides tell the story of 130 years of architectural innovation.

We like our drinks stiff, not our tour guides.

Chicago River Architecture Tour (45 minutes)

This family-friendly introduction to the Windy City's rich history and architectural heritage features highlights from Wendella's full-length architecture tours.

The Ultimate Chicago experience.

We're In the People Business

This was one tour that I can honestly say was worth doing & probably should be a must do/ see on your visit to Chicago.

Ginette, 2023

We were recommended the architecture boat tour by a few locals and it was absolutely amazing!! Beautiful views from anywhere you sat and an extremely knowledgeable and funny tour guide led the trip. Great value for money and so so worth it. Thank you!!

Jessica W, 2024

The skyline was beautiful and the buildings all shined differently. Pictures come out amazing!

Christina, 2023

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Chicago Architecture Center - Chicago's First Lady Tickets

Chicago, IL

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The map below does not reflect availability. Seating charts reflect the general layout for the venue at this time. For some events, the layout and specific seat locations may vary without notice.

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Architecture Tour

TripAdvisor users rank the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady as the city's #1 boat tour.

There’s one sure recipe to make your business or social event even more memorable – just add water and Chicago’s First Lady!

Recalling the handsome elegance of 20th century luxury yachts, our vessels are sure to make an impression. Choose from seven perfectly sized ships for your private event.

Your wedding is the start of your lifelong journey together, so begin that journey in a truly memorable way - a wedding cruise down the Chicago River.

Evening River Cruise

Experience our renowned daytime CAC River Cruise in the glow of the setting sun. Take in the city’s magnificent architecture bathed in golden light as it begins its transition from day to night.

“The very best city tour I have been on in my life! We were in America for a month and this was our best morning.” - JurassicBill TripAdvisor, Dorset UK

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"What an amazing experience, this tour brings all the beautiful architecture and history to life.” - Rachel M Yelp, Arizona, USA

• Architecture River Tour

Windy City wow

World-famous landmarks.

There’s nothing quite like seeing Chicago’s world-famous architecture from all three branches of the Chicago River. From hidden treasures to the city’s most well-known sights, you’ll view over 40 Chicago landmarks on our 75-minute Architecture River Boat Tours. 

Enjoy the spectacular views as you listen to our tour guides tell you how Chicago’s buildings, architecture, and engineering made the city famous.

Casting off

Our Architecture River Tours depart from two docks, one at Michigan Avenue and the other at Navy Pier. No matter which dock you depart from, you’ll see all of the spectacular sights as you tour the Chicago River.

Michigan Avenue

401 N. Michigan Ave

Steps off of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, our Michigan Avenue dock starts your tour in the heart of the Chicago River.

124 N. Streeter Drive

Start your tour down the Chicago River at our Navy Pier dock, which sits at the entrance to the iconic Navy Pier boardwalk. This dock is more accessible to wheelchairs.

Our Architecture River Tour takes you up and down the three branches of the Chicago River, providing breathtaking views of Chicago’s famous skyscrapers and landmarks at every turn.

Adults: $49.95

Children (3-12): $26.95

Children 2 and under: Free

Tour highlights:

• 75-minute, guided boat tour
• Unique views from the water create an entirely new perspective of the city
• 40+ landmarks including the Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, and Marina City
• Hear the stories of Chicago’s architects and engineers while viewing their magnificent buildings

Sightseeing in Chicago?

Chicago CityPASS® tickets save 48% on premier admission  to Chicago’s top 5 attractions, including the Architecture River Tour. Visit the attractions at your own pace, in any order, over a 9-day period. One easy purchase and mobile ticket delivery saves you time and money.

Book an Architecture River Tour

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Skyline Lake Tour

Save 48% at 5 top attractions

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Please select Navy Pier. (Skyline Lake Tours are unavailable from Michigan Avenue.)

600 E. Grand Ave

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Note: Fireworks tours available Wednesday and Saturday evenings in the summer.

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Now in its 83rd season, Shoreline Sightseeing operates Chicago's largest and most diverse fleet of cruise boats and water taxis with 11 major tour vessels and 7 water taxis.

(312) 222-9328 ext. 1 [email protected]

• Skyline Tour
• Fireworks Tour
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Today at CAC

Thursday may 02 previous next, current exhibitions.

Willis Tower Revitalized

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Willis Tower with a trip to the 103rd-floor Skydeck combined with a tour of the transformative $500M redevelopment featuring a visit to Catalog’s restaurants and experiences and an exploration of the Tower’s history…

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Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady

Experience why we're the #1 rated boat cruise in Chicago, tickets are on sale now for the 2024 season!

Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age

Learn about the great architectural landmarks of Michigan Avenue and State Street. The 40 years between 1890 and 1930 saw the creation of some of Chicago’s the most memorable buildings, many of which are featured on this tour.

Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Riverfront

Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during the business boom of the Roaring '20s. Learn how Art Deco reflected the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornament.

Chicago Icons: Connecting Past and Present

This lively overview of Chicago architecture explores iconic buildings from the 1890s to present. We'll compare and contrast a wide range of buildings with varying architectural styles and see how older structures connect to new skyline additions.

Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time

Want a quick introduction to Chicago’s magnificent architecture? This 90-minute tour takes a comprehensive look at the city’s architectural history by viewing buildings in chronological order, from early skyscrapers to new supertall high rises.

Hotel Boom: Making Old New Again

Chicago’s growth as a favorite travel destination has fueled a surge in the creative repurposing of historic skyscrapers into chic new hotels. Learn how and why a former motor club, insurance company and bank have undergone this change

Modernism: Reviving the Loop

Previously titled Mid-Century Modern Skyscrapers, this tour takes a look at iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture in Chicago and its triumvirate of modern architects (Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and SOM)

Must-See Chicago

Must-See Chicago is a fast-paced, 90-minute introductory tour to Chicago featuring some of its most famous buildings, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis (Sears) Tower, and more!

Building a Relevant Preservation Movement with Bonnie McDonald

Kick off Preservation Month at the CAC with Landmarks Illinois President and CEO Bonnie McDonald! This program will explore the future of architectural preservation with her new book, “The Relevancy Guidebook,” unveiled in November 2023.

Explore Black history in Chicago

Published on April 30, 2024 by Courtney Sprewer

For as long as Chicago has been Chicago, Black people have been shaping the city’s culture and leaving a lasting impact. After all, Chicago’s first permanent non-Indigenous settler, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable was a Black man from Haiti (who now has a museum and bridge named in his honor). 

In this article

Bronzeville: chicago’s black metropolis, black history museums in chicago, black historic sites in chicago, historic homes of black chicagoans, black history tours of chicago.

The city’s historically Black neighborhoods (like Bronzeville, Pullman, Chatham, Jackson Park Highlands, Kenwood, and Oakland to name a few) grew to become enclaves for Black Americans flocking to Chicago after the Civil War in search of jobs, resources, and a different way of life. 

Since then, Black Chicagoans have been instrumental in shaping many of the city’s, and the nation’s, most important historical moments. Here are just a few ways to experience Black history and heritage around Chicago.

In Bronzeville, you can find dozens of examples of Black history dating as far back as the 1800s. Once known as the city’s “Black Metropolis,” Bronzeville has maintained its rich legacy as a central hub for commerce and community. It’s also home to a wealth of landmarks that honor the neighborhood’s history. 

In the heart of Bronzeville, The Eighth Regiment Armory  was the first U.S. armory built for an African American military regiment. You can pay tribute to those brave soldiers by visiting The Victory Monument , erected to memorialize the “fighting 8th.” 

As time went on, Bronzeville continued to foster a bustling arts and culture scene. The Forum , now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, once hosted music greats from Nat ‘King’ Cole to The Jackson 5, along with political speeches, union meetings, and civil rights events. 

One of the city’s earliest jazz clubs, the Sunset Cafe once welcomed famous artists of the day, including Louis Armstrong. Though the club is closed, the landmark building still stands at 315 E 35th St. Step inside to see some of the club’s original murals.

Nearby, The Supreme Life Building , the first African-American-owned and operated insurance company in North America, is another Bronzeville structure on the National Register of Historic Places.

Another local landmark is the Chicago Defender building, which once housed the nation’s oldest and most outspoken Black-run newspaper, still in operation today. 

In Chicago, we’re lucky to have access to quite a few museums with well-curated collections dedicated to preserving and sharing Black history, art, culture, and more. 

In Washington Park, The DuSable Black History Museum has been in operation for over 60 years and boasts more than 15,000 photos, artworks, and artifacts. The renowned space is the country’s first independent museum dedicated to the history of African and African American culture.

A great way to educate and entertain younger audiences, the Bronzeville Children’s Museum is the only children’s museum in the world dedicated to African American history.

Travel a little further south and you’ll reach Chicago’s first unit of the National Park Service: Pullman National Historical Park. In addition to viewing original architecture from the nation’s f irst planned industrial town, visitors can check out the A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum to learn more about Pullman’s primarily Black workforce and their families who lived and worked in the district. 

Explore more : Immerse yourself in Black art and culture in Chicago .

Bronzeville isn’t the only place in Chicago where Black history comes to life. Throughout the city, you can find monuments to the achievements and advancements of Black Chicagoans. 

In the South Loop, Quinn Chapel is home to Chicago’s oldest African-American congregation and was once an integral stop for slaves passing through Illinois on the Underground Railroad. 

The Johnson Publishing Company Building was the first Black-owned building in downtown Chicago and the headquarters for historic publications like Jet and Ebony magazines.

A bit further down Michigan Avenue, you’ll find the legendary Chess Records Office and Studio . Once considered “America’s greatest blues label” Chess Records produced notable acts including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Etta James, and more. Tours are available by reservation. 

Near the United Center, you’ll find the West Town State Bank Building where pioneering radio broadcasters Jack L. Cooper and AI Benson worked to bring Black music and news to the city’s airwaves in the ‘30s and ‘40s.

In Marquette Park, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Living Memorial . The public sculpture commemorates a protest Dr. King organized in 1966 when the area was designated “whites-only.” 

For some not-so-distant history, you can even visit the spot in Hyde Park where Barack and Michelle shared their first kiss, appropriately named the Obama Kissing Rock .

Throughout the city, you can see the homes of some of the most well-known Black Chicagoans, including Nat King Cole , Louis Armstrong , and Ida B. Wells-Barnett . But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover a few former homes of Black historical figures with lesser known stories, but just as much history to share.  

The John and Mary Jones House is located in what is now Printers Row. John Jones and Mary Jane Richardson Jones became central figures of the abolitionist movement in Chicago and used their home as a political gathering place and station on the Underground Railroad. 

The Rosenwald Apartments in Bronzeville is a courtyard-style housing development once home to everyone from Gwendolyn Brooks to Duke Ellington to boxer Joe Louis to Grammy-winning producer Quincy Jones . 

A little further away sits the Griffiths-Boroughs House , one of the few remaining historic mansions in Bronzeville and the birthplace of the DuSable Black History Museum

Acclaimed author Richard Wright ( Black Boy, Native Son ) and playwright Lorraine Hansberry ( A Raisin in the Sun ) also put down roots in Chicago and their homes still be seen today. 

Chicago Mahogany Tours are led by Sherman “Dilla” Thomas, urban historian, TikTok star, and a recent Chicago Tourism Ambassador of the Year. Choose from tours of Bronzeville, Pullman, Englewood, Chatham, and more, spotlighting the neighborhoods’ people, architecture, and impact. 

Gone Again Travel & Tours offers the Chi-Town Soul Trolley, Black Restaurant, and History Tour, a great option for groups looking to explore all over the city.

You can get a free one-on-one experience with a knowledgeable Chicago native when you book a Chicago Greeter visit . These walks are led by welcoming volunteer Greeters who share interesting facts, insider tips, and an authentic perspective on life in Chicago’s various neighborhoods. 

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