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Chicago Walking Tour: Modern Architecture | 1 hour 30 minutes

47 Reviews | Chicago
From $30.00 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 10 travelers in total.
Adult (5-100) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 10
2
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Chicago Modern
2 Adults x $30.00
$60.00
Approx Total
$60.00

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center
  • Walking tour of Chicago's modern and postmodern architecture
  • Narration by a professional and certified guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Storage for luggage or strollers
  • Coat check

Overview

Looking for iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture? What better place than Chicago with its triumvirate of modern architects (Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and SOM) and a city ready and willing to accept them. Find out what set these buildings apart from their predecessors and how they helped set the stage for the future. If you’re interested in iconic buildings, public art, urban planning or government this is your tour. Find out the stories behind inland steel, Marina city, the IBM building and other "Mad Men" worthy skyscrapers. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.

Meeting points

Meet at the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Chicago Architecture Center

    Your tour begins at the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), formerly the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Visit the CAC to view a 4,000-building scale model of Chicago or shop in the award-winning store.

    10 minutes

  • N/A (Pass By)

    View the Prudential Building.

  • N/A (Pass By)

    View the Aon Center.

  • N/A (Pass By)

    View the Inland Steel Building.

  • Daley Center

    Marvel at Richard J. Daley Center, one of the first buildings to be covered in an unpainted steel called Cor-Ten. The docent will also discuss the famous "Chicago Picasso" artwork in the plaza.

    15 minutes

  • N/A (Pass By)

    Discuss the AMA Plaza, formerly home to the office of Mies van der Rohe.

  • Marina City

    Highlights include Marina City, a mixed-use residential-commercial building designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg, envisioned as an urban experiment designed to draw middle-class Chicagoans back to the city after more than a decade of suburban migration.

    15 minutes

  • N/A (Pass By)

    View the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • 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
  • Pets are not allowed.
  • The itinerary of this tour is subject to change without notice.

Free Cancellation

September 12100% refund
September 13No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.8

47 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    42
  • 4 stars
    2
  • 3 stars
    2
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 42 reviews with 5 stars

Mies’ Pieces & Much More (Modernist Architecture)

Published on Jan, 2025

Our guide Paul was fantastic! Super knowledgeable and passionate about modernist architecture. He was more than willing to brave the frigid cold for my out of town friend and I (we were the only two guests on the tour). I’ve lived in Chicago my entire life, went to school downtown, and was given a fresh perspective and appreciation for several buildings I have passed many times but had not taken much notice of. Highly recommend the tour, and kudos to Paul for his excellent guidance.

Great tour guide!

Published on Dec, 2024

Had a spectacular time nerding out about cool buildings and infrastructure would book another! Paul was great very knowledgeable

Very enjoyable walk

Published on Dec, 2024

Great and knowledgeable tour guide. Very much recommended tour! Gave us a great overview of modernistic architecture in Chicago

Look up and appreciate Chicago’s master designers and builders

Published on Nov, 2024

As a Chicago native I was amazed how much new information and historical perspective my wife and I got. Our docent was truly excellent

Wonderful and enjoyable tour!

Published on Oct, 2024

We are always impressed by the quality of the docents at the CAC. Our tour guide, Ed, was an architect. He is not only knowledgeable, but he is also passionate about Chicago architecture. Consequently, he inspired us with his enthusiam. We learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed this tour.

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