Explore the new Old Post Office Building, whose early 20th-century design has been adaptively reused into a beautiful, modern Class A Office building.
It once seemed as though the stunning architectural details of Chicago's Old Post Office would be lost to time while the building sat vacant for almost two decades. But the 2.8 million square foot building, completed in 1934, recently went through a monumental renovation and now serves as a modern multi-use event and office space that meets today's need for large, light-filled workspaces.
See how historic artifacts and building details have been creatively incorporated into the Old Post Office's design including the conversion of the roof to a 3.5-acre urban rooftop park. Old places can become new spaces when a developer with vision collaborates with an award-winning architectural team.
Tour Options
Explore the Historic Old Post Office in Chicago
Itinerary
90 min
Guests will tour the interior of the Old Post Office building on W Van Buren Street, discuss the building's history, and its renovation into a modern office space and learn what adaptive-reuse is and why it is important. Guests will see the Main Lobby, the "Zig-zag wall", the "postcard wall", and the rooftop meadow.
Highlights
Tour of the Old Post Office by a certified Chicago Architecture Center docent.
What's included
Included
Tour of the Old Post Office by a certified Chicago Architecture Center docent.
Not included
Food or drink
Coat check
Storage for luggage or strollers
Traveller Ratings
5.0
25 reviews
5
24
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
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
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is an active commercial space. The itinerary of this tour may be altered without notice at the discretion of building management.
Pets are not allowed.
Photography is not allowed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Explore the Historic Old Post Office in Chicago take?
Explore the Historic Old Post Office in Chicago lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Explore the Historic Old Post Office in Chicago cost?
Prices start at $15 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.
Can I cancel Explore the Historic Old Post Office in Chicago for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is The Old Post Office Building; meet inside the Van Buren entrance.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Explore the Historic Old Post Office in Chicago offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 21 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(25)
H
H7333BHjulied
July 14, 2026
Alice’s Amazing Post Office Tour
Tour guide Alice was marvelous. She was animated, energetic, personable, and incredibly well – informed. Would highly recommend both the fascinating tour and her leadership.
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour of the Old Post Office. It really is a spectacular building! We appreciate the kind words and hope to see you on more tours soon.
N
norakN3048TP
July 5, 2026
The Cinderella Story of The Old Post Office
Such an interesting tour led by Alice ... She has a wonderful personality and her vast knowledge gave me a deep appreciation of its history... The building is magnificent... She was built for heavy duty work, almost left to crumble, but was revived into magnificent building housing many modern companies... How could you not want to go to work every day... The amenities for the workers are absolutely top-notch...
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review! The Old Post Office is a stunning building and we're delighted you enjoyed learning about it with Alice. We hope to see you on more tours soon!
K
Katbird2000
June 3, 2026
I had no idea!
I learned so much, I will need to take this tour again! I live in Chicago and had never been in the renovated Old Post Office - it is stunning! Because we were on the tour, we had access to the amenities on the 2nd floor AND the rooftop. This is a great thing to do with out-of-town guests.
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed exploring the beautiful Old Post Office with us and hope to see you on more tours soon. We offer a plethora of other tours you might be interested both downtown, in the neighborhoods and we even have one in Evanston you might enjoy!
R
reneegK1361PF
June 3, 2026
Fabulous Time at the Post Office
Seeing the renovation of the post office was a treat from the oppulent art deco entry to the roof top garden and everything in between. Our guide Alice was exceptionally knowledgeable and made the tour facinating, informative and fun. I hoghly recommend this tour and Alce as docent.
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review! The Old Post Office is stunning and we're delighted you enjoyed exploring it with Alice. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
C
caffelatteboy
May 12, 2026
Not to be missed!
Alice was an excellent and energetic tour guide through this wonderful example of an adaptive (but expensive) reuse of the Old Post Office. Alice’s descriptions bridged the past to the present with interesting insight about the methods of mail handling in Chicago and its contribution to the USA.
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are so happy you enjoyed the tour with Alice. The Old Post Office is a stunning building and we're delighted you enjoyed exploring it with us. We hope to see you again the next time you visit Chicago!
I
I9929PWleet
April 18, 2026
Highly Recommend the Historic Old Post Office Tour
This tour was fabulous. The guide was knowledgeable and provided a great overview of the history of the building. Many of the original art deco elements were retained and then incorporated into the modern redesign. Chef’s kiss! Make sure to go up to see the rooftop space.
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! The Old Post Office building is spectacular and we're so happy you enjoyed exploring it with us. We hope to see you on more tours soon! And yes, the rooftop space is stunning--a definite must-see.
J
James_D
April 14, 2026
Informative
Informative tour that tells about the history of the building and how they integrate the history back into the renovation.
D
Dream746445
April 8, 2026
The Chicago Old Post Office is a Must See!
Loved our visit to the Chicago Old Post Office yesterday!! It is beautiful to see how a building can be repurposed and fascinating to hear all the details to the process. Thank you Alice!!!
Operator response
The Old Post Office is a stunning building. We're so happy you enjoyed exploring it with us! Thank you for the great review. We hope to see you on more tours soon!
S
sheilal143
April 7, 2026
Old Post Office building tour is a must-see Chicago site
The Old Post Office building is a treasure. Our guide, Alice shared the history (from 1934) to present. Great tour for the entire family.
Thanks Alice for an amazing tour!
Operator response
We agree! The Old Post Office building is STUNNING and it's always a crowd favorite! We're so happy you enjoyed the tour and hope to see you on other CAC tours soon!
S
Stay50676251380
December 14, 2025
Well worth it
Alice was our tour guide on the architecture river trip. She was fantastic so we joined her on the old post office tour as well. We loved her enthusiasm and all the knowledge she shared with us. We'll worth the while.
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! We’re thrilled that the tours inspired you to keep exploring and that the experience felt truly worthwhile. We hope to see you again soon.