Discover the fascinating history of Chicago from a whole new perspective — on the water! This 120-minute Guided History Tour along the Chicago River brings the city’s past to life through captivating stories, iconic landmarks, and little-known facts that shaped the Windy City into what it is today. • Chicago’s transformation from swamp land to industrial hub to the modern metropolis it is today • The dramatic story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and how the city rebuilt stronger than ever • Tales of Chicago’s most infamous gangsters and Prohibition-era legends • The groundbreaking 1893 World’s Fair and the inventions it introduced to the world • The incredible reversal of the Chicago River — its purpose and lasting impact on the city’s future Step aboard and experience how history, architecture, and innovation flow together on this unforgettable journey through Chicago’s past and present.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
The Party Barge is a unique way to cruise the Chicago River and lakefront. The boat features a u-shaped bar, surrounded by bar stools. The boat is equipped with a head (bathroom), charging ports, additional seating at the bow and coolers with ice. All cruises are BYOB, 120 minutes long and depart from the Chicago Riverwalk (between the LaSalle Street and Wells Street bridges).
Off the to the south side of the river we will see the site where the first American settlement, Ft Dearborn, once stood.
This was the site where the 1871 Great Chicago Fire started.
In 1992 a hole formed under this bridge which lead to the Great Flood, shutting Chicago down for a whole week!
These buildings built in 1964 are considered the pivot point from Chicago's Industrial Age into the Residential Metropolitan it is today.
Learn about the reverse of the Chicago River how that has formed the city over the last century.
Here we get to learn about the World's Fair of 1893 and the inventions we still use today that were introduced here.
In the late 1800's Captain Santa set up shop on his sail boat the Rouse Simmons to sell Christmas Trees every winter at this corner of the river.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
BYOB Chicago River Guided History Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
Prices start at $65 per person for this Chicago experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays, starting at 10:30 AM.
Children aged 1–5 pay from $30, adults from $65.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Our Water Plaza location is situated along the Chicago Riverwalk between the LaSalle and Wells bridges. A staircase located at the northwest corner of Wacker and LaSalle provides access from the street. The check-in office is next to Sweet Home Gelato. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 18 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 4 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Chicago Boat Company.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Monica and Avril were excellent tour guides. They were extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city. The tour was lovely and a great way to explore Chicago. An absolute must if you’ve never been on a Chicago riverboat!!
Hey there, we're elated your experience with Monica and Avril was a memorable one!
This was a beautiful way to spend a friend’s birthday. Great views and a great time. Monica and Maria were absolutely incredible - kind, fun, and overall ideal captain and co-captain. Will be requesting them for the next time we do a cruise.
Monica, Kelli, Avril were our helpers on the boat and they were amazing!!! The facts were fun and jokes were added in. The crew made sure we had a great time. Very personal and great people. Highly recommend the trip.
Monica was great. So much fun. We went on a two hour tour and she told us lots of things about Chicago. While it was cold we still enjoyed the tour.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYOB Chicago River Guided History Tour | 2 hours | 5.0 (4) | $65 | |
 Chicago River Ghost & Dark History Night Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.1 (232) | $46 | View |
 Chicago Architecture River Cruise | 1h–1h 15min | 4.8 (17,100) | $39 | View |
 Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Tour | 1h 30min | 4.7 (11,107) | $45 | View |
 Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady | 1h 30min | 4.9 (7,356) | $57 | View |
 Chicago River 45-Minute Architecture Tour from Magnificent Mile | 45 min | 4.6 (3,671) | $28 | View |
 Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour | 1h 30min | 4.7 (2,462) | $45 | View |