Chicago Walking Tour: Historic Treasures of Chicago
Description
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. After the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, Chicago was determined to become a great cultural and commercial metropolis. This tour is a testament to that era's ambitions. See buildings by Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Holabird and Roche and other noted architects and hear the stories behind the city's architectural gems. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Chicago Architecture Center; introductory remarks from the docent
View the Wrigley Building
View the exterior and interior of the Palmer House Hotel Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to enter this location.
View the Carbide and Carbon Building
View the Reliance Building.
View the exterior and interior of the Chicago Cultural Center
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change, due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
- Pets are not allowed.
Reviews(439)
Outstanding tour. Betty was very informative, interesting and helpful
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Historic Treasures tour and appreciate the 5 stars. We hope to see you again the next time you visit Chicago!
I will add to all of the positive reviews here and say that we had a wonderful experience with our docent. She brought to life the history of Chicago and the efforts made by volunteers and organizations to preserve these beautiful buildings. Highly recommended.
A great way to see and appreciate Chicago. Maureen did an outstanding job introducing us to some of the architectural treasures of Chicago.
On Saturday, July 25, I took the CAC Interior Treasure tour led by Jim. He's a treasure- best docent in my experience! Good voice and volume, kept us moving. But what I most enjoyed were his questions (and pauses) which engaged the group. Lots of fun details about Marshall Field's firsts, GAR doors, etc. I took an additional CAC tour on Monday but she mainly read from the note cards. Made me appreciate Jim's knowledge and style. Katy McBride
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're delighted you enjoyed the Historic Treasures tour with Jim and appreciate the 5 stars! We appreciate the continued support and look forward to seeing you again.
We took the Interior Treasures of the Gilded Age walking tour with Paul S, and it was the highlight of our trip. Paul was enthusiastic and knowledgeable as a long-time Chicago resident, and was a very engaging tour guide. I leaned a lot, the time flew by, and I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning more about Chicago, its history, and its architectural treasures. 11/10
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the Historic Treasures tour with Paul and we're honored to be the highlight of your trip to Chicago! We appreciate the 5 stars and hope to see you again the next time you visit.
Wow! This was our favorite tour! We liked it even more than the boat ride along the river. We never would have found all these beautiful interiors, mosaics, stained glass etc without our wonderful, knowledgeable and all around lovely guide Joan! She told us about some other historic interiors to check out that we just didn't have time for. We also learned so much history of Chicago and different design styles. Loved it!
Yay! We're so happy you enjoyed the Historic Treasures walking tour! It really is a spectacular way to really get up close to some of Chicago's most stunning architecture. We're delighted you chose to explore Chicago with us and hope to see you again the next time you visit.
I went on the Chicago Architecture Center's Interior Treasures of the Golden Age tour in June 2026. Betty was my docent and she was outstanding. She knew her subject inside and out and explained things to us in a very understandable manner. It was clear to us that Betty is passionate about Chicago and this tour. Also, it was raining that day but her bright demeanor kept the tour light and fun. CAC has a great docent in Betty!
Thank you for the great review! We're delighted you enjoyed the Historic Treasures tour with Betty and appreciate the kind words. We hope to see you again the next time you visit Chicago!
Highly recommend!!! Our tour guide was very knowledgable and we learned alot. If you are interested in seeing the beauty INSIDE Chicago's great architectural giants you should do this tour!!!
After already doing the architecture tour by boat, I wanted to spend more time getting up and close with the buildings. Bill was a fantastic tour guide who shared so much knowledge and history about some of Chicago's most fascinating buildings. It was like a behind the scenes tour of Chicago that many visitors never experience. I learned so much about the cultural center and Tiffany's domes. Would highly recommend. Your ticket includes entry to the Chicago Architecture Museum, so we checked that out after the tour too.
As a solo traveler, I really enjoyed this tour. What I appreciated most was that we explored both the exterior and interior of several iconic buildings, making the experience much more immersive. My guide, John, provided excellent historical context, explained how the buildings evolved over time, and pointed out many architectural details that I would have missed on my own. A great introduction to Chicago's architecture and history. Highly recommended!
