This was by far my favorite thing I did for my first trip to Chicago and was recommended by friends and it didn't disappoint! My tour guide was SO knowledgeable and this is the only tour associated with the Chicago Architecture Center! It was so interesting learning about all the buildings along the water and the history of Chicago that went with it! read more

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What a wonderful tour! Chicago is a beautiful city. Enjoyed this on the river during the evening. So worth it! Our Docent was very knowledgable about the architecture . read more

Chicago Architecture Center - The boat stopped at the pier, and I was able to take this photo. - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you want to know the history of all the beautiful buildings along the river, take this cruise excursion. The tour director is well versed on Chicago history and other pertinent info that adds to the full experience of this tour. Enjoy the flavors of Chicago by boat. read more

There is know doubt, still the best river tour in town. I know there are others and they are also good but the Architecture Group just does it better. Our most recent visit included another super experienced guide. In fact every guide from the foundation has a special take on the architecture. Keep up the good work. read more

We are new to the Chicagoland area and knew there was no better way to see the city than on the water. We booked a tour around sunset to get to see all the colors of the sky and how they hit the building. Then, we saw the city light up as we ended back at the dock. Mark was a fantastic guide and provided lots of great nuggets of information that I'm sure will boast well at a trivia night sometime in the future. After the tour, we talked with Mark for a moment off the boat and he helped provide some more recommendations of things to see and do. Highly recommend going with the best tour company on the water if you are wanting to learn a little bit about Chicago's architecture history. read more

Fantastic. Our guide was so knowledgeable and the talk was centered around actual architecture. If you want a high quality experience about the importance of Chicago architecture, this is the boat to go on. read more

This is an awesome tour! The guide (Mark?) was amazing and Captain Dave kept the boat afloat (and smooth).

Wife and I took the 11am tour, it was very easy to find along the Riverwalk. There was plenty of room on top and below where they had AC and plenty of drinks to purchase both alcoholic and non. The tour started on time and we had a terrific guide whom was very knowledgeable of the river, the architecture, and surrounding areas. She answered all questions and seemed to really enjoy her job. This is an excellent tour and shouldn't be missed for new visitors to the city. read more

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If I could leave a 0 I would. No handicap accessible to get there so they sent us with a wheelchair about a mile total away and said they would hold it for us. We got there right after they boarded and they closed the gate on us saying there was nothing they could do but charge us extra to take a different cruise later while leaving my handicap mom shivering outside. I would like to point out we got there in plenty of time and they failed to advertise that there was no handicap accessibility anywhere near. Would NOT recommend this for anyone with special needs! Happy Mothers Day huh? read more

My colleagues and I were in Chicago for business meetings. We decided to do this cruise and made reservations a month in advance for 11 people. We did not realize that we needed to make accommodations for one handicapped employee until we arrived and realized there were two flights of steps. She would need to walk up and down in order to board the boat. They did not make accommodations for her to board the boat, but did make accommodations for her to get off the boat at a different location that had an elevator after only about five steps. The cruise itself was lovely, plenty of space, they gave a great history lesson, and went at a pace where you could walk around and feel comfortable enough to not stumble, while the boat in motion. My only critique is the narrator was rude. He continuously asked folks to be quiet, pipe down, etc. so that he could get his point across. For an outdoor event, I feel folk should have been allowed to have a little more fun, especially since they have a bar on board. read more

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Steve was an awesome guide. So knowledgeable, imparting his smarts with grace and manner easy to listen to and take in. His timing was impeccable until the final stop. He's a keeper for sure. Great tour. Everyone should do and as the skyline changes keep coming back every so often! read more

Great tour pacing, easy boarding, friendly staff! Bring sunglasses please We did a 7pm spring sunset cruise and it was very nice! Would recommend doing this early in your trip if you're coming from out of town. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There are a lot of companies doing Chicago river tours, but this has to be near the top of the group. The docent was incredibly knowledgeable about the buildings that line the river. It was a bucket list item. Worth the money, time, everything! Very easy to find and get to. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - River cruise boat - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So much to learn and so much knowledge provided by Leslie, the docent for this cruise. I could go again and again. This experience is a must-do and this boat company sure does provide a memorable and educational excursion and experience. Leslie shared lots of rich Chicago history and it was also very relatable and she was easy to follow as well. The seats were comfortable and the 75 minutes went so fast that I wanted to relive the whole trip again. A tip, our hotel, Staypineapple, assisted in arranging the trip and there was a little discount as well. This made things even more pleasant. Highly recommend! read more

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We absolutely loved this experience! Lydia was our guide, and she couldn't have been any better. She was wonderful and very informative about the city and its skyline. Getting to the dock was very easy, and ticketing was a breeze. Best of all, our boat was only 2/3 or so full! We were all able to spread out a little. We opted for the 5:30 pm cruise, which was a little sunny at first but turned out to be fantastic toward the end, with the city just beginning to light up. My wife was blown away and said this was her favorite part of our trip to the city! read more

Chicago Architecture Center - View from the rear of the upper deck - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Chicago more times than I can count to visit family, but since I've been here so many times I've never really done any of the tourist-y stuff. That was until my most recent visit when I brought my boyfriend who had never been before. The architecture cruise came highly recommended my some family members so we decided that this would be at the top of our list of things to do. Booking on line was very easy - we used groupon to purchase and then showed up at will call the morning of to redeem our physical tickets for our reservation time. We booked a cruise in the morning/early afternoon on a weekend - probably the most beautiful day we could have asked for. It was like the sky was showing off the buildings, providing the perfect backdrop for them. We were absolutely fascinated by all of the history that the city holds and the way each building tells a unique part of that story. While everyone had recommended that we go on a tour, no one really had an opinion on which company we should tour with. I can't recommend the Chicago Architecture Center tour enough. Our tour guide was a volunteer who does this because she loves the city and it's story and loves sharing it with everyone. She was so knowledgeable from the history to design styles to stories about each building and more! In speaking to her after, she also said that every tour is different and she'll pull out different fun facts based on how fast the boat is moving, which buildings she needs to spend the most time on, etc. So it's really a different tour every time you go. I will absolutely be recommending this to anyone and everyone visiting Chicago. Definitely bring some sunscreen and sunglasses! read more

Chicago Architecture Center - View from last leg of the tour - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a MUST DO in Chicago! In 90 minutes, we got to appreciate the various architecture styles that make up the Chicago landscape, from Art Deco to mid-century Modernism. Our docent, Jim, was so passionate about sharing his knowledge and clearly loves Chicago with his entire soul and being. I've done cruise tours here before with other companies, but this is hands down the best one. Trust me, it's worth the $$. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went on Sunday at 12:30 on a beautiful Chicago day. We loved this tour for so many reasons. It was a great way to be outside and on the water on a beautiful day. We had a great guide who brought the buildings to life. She added in personal information and really made use feel her love of the buildings. I would recommend this tour to anyone in Chicago on a nice day. I was expecting to and preparing to tip, but they do not ask for or accept tips. read more

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Very mesmerizing architectural tour by the River. The guide was very knowledgeable and quite such interesting facts. A MUST when visiting the Windy City!!! read more

***BEST CHICAGO BOAT TOUR*** I'm sure if you're looking at this review it's probably because someone recommend you go on "the Chicago boat tour" while you're in Chicago. Unfortunately, like me, they probably didn't tell you which one to take... and if you started looking in to these "boat tours" you've realized there are TONS of "boat trip" companies. Well guess what, you're in luck! I did the research and tested the tours out for you! The Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise - First Lady is THE BEST architecture tour there is! This company gives you a 1.5 hour tour with amazing views you won't forget. Some tours just take you into the lake but this tour takes the rivers through the city so you see ALL the amazing architecture. This tour is put on by the Chicago Architecture Center and led by expertly trained volunteers who work for the Architecture Center. This really made our experience amazing because our tour guide was well informed and offered amazing information about the city and each building we passed! It was exactly what we were looking for in the tour! If you decide to take this cruise, you'll head down the staircase and purchase your tickets at the ticket booth along the river bank. I posted a picture that reflects the prices and upgrades. We did the standard $47 cruise and that was perfect. ***PRO TIP*** Buy your tickets in person at the ticket office to avoid the dumb miscellaneous fees. Also, try to buy the tickets a few hours early to insure you get to do the ride and they aren't sold out. In the early parts of the year when it's cold they usually don't sell out... there's also no twilight tours until later in the year when it warms up! You'll board the boat and take a seat of your choose upstairs or downstairs under. We sat on the top deck which gives the best view. ***PRO TIP*** pick a seat by the railing where the speakers are located so you can clearly hear the boat tour guide. It can get really windy and sometimes hard to hear. But sit by a speak... you'll have no issues. Make sure you dress for Chicago and make it one step cooler. These tours can get COLD, especially while the boat is moving and on the water. In conclusion this was BY FAR the best architectural boat trout in Chicago. Don't even consider anyone else... this tour doesn't disappoint! I mean look at my pictures and decide for yourself! read more

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The cruise was great our guide was very informative. Had a great time mom and I really enjoyed the cruise

I visited Chicago this past weekend with family and a family friend. I was the only person in the group that had ever been to Chicago (but it was over 15 years ago as a teen). So what's the touristy thing we had to do? An architecture boat cruise, of course! A lot of companies offer a similar tour, but we decided to do ours through the Chicago Architecture Center, because a couple of us are pretty serious architecture nerds and wanted a tour that really emphasized the architecture. We weren't disappointed. The tour takes you along several parts of the Chicago River through the city. And from the boat, you can see some really incredible architecture that also provides a pretty interesting history of Chicago itself. Our tour guide was lovely and very knowledgeable. Throughout the 1.5-hour tour, she pointed out various buildings (new and old) and told us about the architect/firm, inspiration for the building, and more. She also talked a bit about the history of Chicago, which provided context for the buildings discussed. We visited in early May, so it was chilly on the boat (especially in the shade) due to the breeze. But on a sunny day, this was a really lovely way to spend a morning. The boat was easy to get to and to board, and it holds a lot of people. It's a bit pricey - about $50 per person before taxes and online service charge fees (I ended up paying about $240 for four people), but it's a great experience and a really great introduction to Chicago if it's your first visit! Worth the money if you're interested in architecture or just seeing Chicago from the river! Great views of the city! read more

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Great tour of the city on the Chicago River. Mark was our guide and very knowledgeable. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Michigan Ave bridge - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a cool event. It had been really hyped up to me- by "best of" lists, friends who have traveled to Chicago, even my dermatologist. I will say it was awesome to learn about the architecture and history of Chicago. However, while you see a lot on a boat you also miss a lot. And the level of enjoyment on the boat really depends on your guide, and my guide just wasn't that engaging. I found myself zoning out quite a bit. My friend who was with me said she'd had a much more engaging guide just a month ago. My friend was actually whispering cool facts to me as we went along that she'd heard on her last tour that this guide didn't even mention! Also, I went in June and it was so cold! Be sure to bring layers and prepare for wind and possibly even fog obstructing your view. Not something I feel particularly thrilled about spending so much money on. read more

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The tour was amazing. My second time in Chicago and this tour by First Lady never disappoints. It's better than expected. Steve was our docent and was wonderful too, along with the crew for a smooth ride. Thank you! read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had the absolute best time taking the 90 minute Chicago Architecture River Cruise. Our guide, Bill was very knowledgeable and had my attention the entire tour. Bill spoke about the history and the architectural heritage of the buildings. He was excellent and was very informative. When in Chicago, this tour should be first on your list of things to do. I highly recommend! Will be back same time next year. Hopefully we'll get Bill again, if not, I'm sure any tour guide would be just as great! With must respect. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Our Chicago 24 Hour Visit - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is literally something I've looked forward to for many many years. As an architecture lover, Chicago is a must-do and really you are wasting your time (and money) if you have anyone other than the Chicago Architecture Foundation do the tour. Their depth of knowledge and ability to answer any question is unmatched by the memorize-and-go general tour operators. We had the good fortune of experiencing Kathleen's Top 10 Architecture Tour. It was super and worth the time for you to try to take it. Some things I recommend based on our experience: * Get your tickets online rather than at the booth. That way you know they aren't sold out. * Interested in a sunset tour? It's more expensive. BUT if you're there in the early fall, the sun sets earlier so get on the next to last tour and you'll get to see the sunset at the regular tour price. * When you get to the river dock area, look at the notice boards for information on where you need to load (dock #). * Seats are first come first served. There is a downstairs covered area if you prefer. We sat on the roof deck mid ship. Good view, good volume. read more

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My bf and I went on the architecture cruise and it was SO much fun. Neither of us are huge architecture people but had heard good things about this activity and wanted a reason to get on the river. This did not disappoint! Our guide's name was Steve, and he was so friendly, knowledgable and engaging! It was easy to get a seat and looked like they had a spot for everyone to sit outdoors. They also had a bar and even though I don't drink, I did order still water and it came canned which was fun, looked like a beer! The cruise was about 90-minutes, started at 5:30pm, and we went at the right time! It was a bit sunny for the first 15 minutes but the sun started to go down after and we got a cool breeze and golden light reflecting off all of the buildings. We learned a ton of history and fun facts about the different buildings and overall just had a great time getting to know Chicago in this way. read more

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"The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization." ~Frank Lloyd Wright - Cruise down the Chicago River to see the city's famous, magnificent architecture on this boat tour with an expert guide. It will take your breath away, "Chicago is a city where the practical and the inspirational exist in harmony; where visionaries who made no small plans rebuilt after a great fire and taught the world to reach new heights. It's a bustling metropolis with the warmth of a small town; where the world already comes together every day to live and work and reach for a dream--a dream that no matter who we are, where we come from; no matter what we look like or what hand life has dealt us; with hard work, and discipline, and dedication, we can make it if we try." ~Barack Obama 44th President of the United States and longtime Chicago resident read more

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This is outstanding. The tour is always good, and the guide today was the best ever. She was so professional and not at all the typical sing-song hokey-jokey junk that you often get from these tours. Very knowledgeable and smart about knowing what is going to be interesting to a wide variety of people. Highly recommend. read more

Absolutely the best boat tour in Chicago! It is a great 2 hours of the day or evening. The people are very knowledgeable. The last tour of the evening is 7:30. The night time tour is great with all the lights from the buildings! They also offer beverages for purchase. They give a lot of history and don't distract. It is a great must do item to see Chicago along the river! The recommendations provided me were all correct! It's the Best! read more

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Visiting from Ottawa Canada, I took this tour and it was absolutely great! The tour guide explained things very well, giving us story's and teaching is about types of architecture! It was very interesting! Would definitely recommend if you are any bit interested in architecture or (like me) like tall buildings! read more

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It was chilly out but worth the low temps! Our tour guide provided so many interesting details about the Chicago skyline. This is a must when visiting Chicago. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A great sunset tour with Mark! So much information to go with the Great Lake views. This was our second architectural tour on trips to Chicago, and it remains some of the best money you can spend in the city. This and our tour of the FLW Robie house were the highlights of our trip read more

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Bottom Line: Whether you want to casually enjoy the sights or buff up on your architecture knowledge, this is a great experience. I've done the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise twice now. The cruises are narrated by volunteer docents who love their city and are very knowledgeable about the unique buildings lining the river. The docents are genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity to share Chicago with visitors. The narration is very informative but even if you don't care about the technical details the cruise is a relaxing experience, especially on nice weather days. There are many wonderful photo ops too. What I enjoy most about the cruise is learning about the history of Chicago and it's famous buildings. I absorbed enough to appreciate the Windy City. The cruise is round trip from the Riverwalk at the Michigan Ave. DuSable Bridge. During the 90 minute cruise beverages are available for purchase at the indoor bar. The Chicago Architect Foundation is the only non-profit organization operating architecture cruises on the Chicago River. They offer other city tours too and they have a nice store on Michigan Ave. across from Millennium Park. read more

Chicago Architecture Center - Cupola up top is interesting. - Historical Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Steve, the docent, knocked this tour out of the goddamn park. 90 min and wish it had been 3 hrs and I'm not even that into architecture. Learned a ton, great way to see Chicago's vast architectural gems, and just an overall well done tour. Would highly recommend to everyone. We had AMAZING weather but obviously that's not always going to be the case so make sure to dress appropriately cause this tour is best experienced on the top deck. Also there looks to be a well stocked bar so this would be an easy day drinking activity with your buddies to knock a few back and see some kickass buildings. read more

This boat tour is a cool way to see the history and architecture of the buildings near the river. The tour takes about 90 minutes and our guide was very knowledgeable. The boat has a fully indoor area downstairs which is where we spent most of our time because it was raining the whole time. Unfortunately these tours go rain or shine, no refunds! That meant that the upstairs chairs were fully wet and constantly being rained on our whole tour. That puts a bit of a damper on things because obviously the better views are from up there. The downstairs area does have a nice bar area where they sell drinks (and panchos for the rain) and they have bathrooms down there if you need it. read more

We loved this 90 minute architecture tour along the river. Emily, the docent from the Chicago Architecture Center, was extremely knowledgeable and provided interesting and entertaining narration read more

We had a great time cruising the river with Deborah as our guide. She talked the entire 1.5 hours tour with without so much as consulting any notes. Her talk was historical, informational, and of course, architectural. I learned so much and really had a lovely time. read more

My friends kept telling me it was best to do this Boat Tour at sunset because it would be cooler (temperature-wise), and prettier so pics would turn out the best. But since I had the Cubs game at night, I had no other choice but to do the Boat Tour in the morning after visiting the Bean just a half mile away. I lucked out on the weather because the day I went, it was actually nice. It was still sunny and hot, but not uncomfortably so (as some natives have said about previous July summers in Chicago), and there would be the occasional breeze that hit the boat as we went down the Chicago River. The Tour is not only great to look at (the buildings in downtown Chicago all loom and tower over everyone), but informative without being dry or boring. read more