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    Frederick C Robie House

    4.2 (114 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Frederick C Robie House Landmarks & Historical Buildings Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Frederick C Robie House

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    Entrance
    Dustin E.

    The Robie House is amazing! One of the finest FLW properties we have toured. It has been lovingly cared for and restored by the foundation. The docent we had was simply incredible! His knowledge of the house, property and area was expert level. There was no question anyone asked that stumped him. He was such a good story teller. The tour here is complete, with access to most rooms except the kitchen. It's a great way to spend an hour if you can get in.

    Natalie L.

    We are HUGE Frank Lloyd Wright fans--so much so that our son is currently getting his master's in architecture (we're practically living the dream). We were so pumped for this tour that we rushed from the train station, pushing our timeline to the edge, and arrived just as it was starting. Our oldest daughter, ever the professional multitasker, quietly stepped back to answer an email. Perfectly normal, right? But just as we were about to immerse ourselves in Wright's genius, Mary, the tour guide, sidled up to her like a caffeine-deprived librarian and said, "There's a cafe around the corner if this is boring you." Let's break this down: we just dropped $130 for five tickets, trekked across town, and we were all on the edge of our seats, ready for a deep dive into the mind of Frank Lloyd Wright. And in a blink, it was crushed by Mary's very questionable hospitality. Mary, you were a walking encyclopedia of knowledge--truly, your architectural facts were on point--but your manners? Let's just say they need a little renovation. We left the tour still big fans of FLW, but now, also major fans of the "cafe around the corner" for next time.

    Outside of the house
    Andrea C.

    As an architecture student, this house was the first architectural piece i've studied and have been osessed with it ever since. I finally got the chance to come and see it in person and was amazed by the level of detail and work that Mr Wright was able to accomplish. We did the tour with the guide for 24 dollars and it did not disappoint. the guide was super knowledgable and was always open to questions. The guide was more or less a totla of 25 minutes but it did not include the kitchen, or the maids quarters which is a different chunk of the house. All in all, the tour is worth it because he talks to you about so many things you wouldnt know otherwise. This house is a must when you come to chicago and since youre already on Campus of an astonishing university, you can walk around and explore!

    Sean W.

    Nice tour and beautiful grounds near campus. We enjoyed the short tour. It was around 20 minutes on train from Chicago.

    Hunter S.

    Touted as the quintessential example of the Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style home. Cost is 20-75 dollars. 20 for the house tour, 30 for the indoor tour and audio outdoor tour, and a 65 dollar 90 minute tour. The audio tour was fine, but mainly just tells you about six or seven sites on the University of Chicago campus that contrast with FLW's vision. For diehards, fine, but I wouldn't spend the extra 10 bucks next time. The home itself is almost empty, with a few FLW furniture pieces throughout. There are beautiful lines, leaded windows. Much like many other historical spots, this site changed hands many times and was allowed to fall into disrepair and was almost demolished. But the FLW foundation has done a fantastic job or restoring the site. Our docent (I think his name was Phillip) was great. Clear, concise, knowledgeable. The history about the few families who lived there were interesting. I wish we had learned a little more. Overall worthwhile. If you don't have a car with you, Lyft is easy and accessible and decently priced.

    Interior Ceiling (upper room).
    Gilbert G.

    My wife, two teenage sons, and I enjoyed the tour in July 2023. We were glad to have reserved tickets in advance as our group reached the maximum of 14 people. The Robie House is a key architectural milestone for Frank Lloyd Wright who completed it in 1909. Lots of pluses. First, Robie House was fully renovated in 2019 - so it looks great from the carpet to the brass fixtures. Second, our volunteer guide was knowledgable about the historical background of the house, which draws from Japanese influences (lack of clutter, open "Zen-like" upper floor, and wood interiors) and Native-American influences (Robie House has a pueblo-like structure that reminded me of Mary Colter's 1909 Hopi House in Grand Canyon NP). Third, you can take pictures inside of all the rooms (which is really nice). However, the tour did have some minuses. Finding street parking was difficult because we had a large SUV. I had to drive to the Campus North parking garage (15 minute walk away). Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before the tour starts if you drive a large car. Also, I was surprised that Frank Lloyd Wright did not formally acknowledge Japanese designers or Native-American designers in his Prairie-style home. But that's a minor quibble. The building is a key milestone in American architecture, which is now preserved on the National Register of Historical Places.

    Gerald H.

    Stopped here on my never-ending quest to see all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses. There is street parking, and with this being right on the edge of the U of Chi campus, there may be other visitor parking with a walk available. We ubered here soon can't speak to it. Loved the look of the house - and the tour was pretty straightforward. What I liked about this one was they allowed pictures. In other houses we have toured they don't allow photography which is stupid so I appreciated being able to take pictures. The tour took about an hour and even though the guide tried to pop me for getting to close to the wall - which I didn't - I liked the tour. Weather didn't want to cooperate but this would rank in the top half of the locations we have been to.

    The tour begins outside the gift shop
    David M.

    Amazing architectural gem. It was a bit of an ordeal to get there from the Loop but still doable for a pedestrian. The number six bus dropped me near the museum of science and industry and I walked the rest of the way. Take the tour, they offer a lot of facts and they're open to questions. The greatest thing though is to feel the space and the presence of this masterpiece. Worth a visit. Go.

    PJ S.

    A really beautiful and interesting Frank Lloyd Wright home. Loved the details especially on the light fixtures. The outdoor self-guided tour was just okay - it really isn't about Robie house and more of a U of C tour - wouldn't do that again.

    Inside

    We had a wonderful tour guide named Chris. We was very knowledgeable and had a lot of insights into the design of the house. You learn a ton while you are there. BOOK AHEAD, showing up won't get you tickets, we saw so many people turned away for tours because tickets were sold out. But it is well worth it.

    Side of the Robie house.
    Brandi F.

    Fantastic tour of an amazing house. We had a great tour guide, Joan who was a fountain of knowledge of not only the Robie house, but of Frank Lloyd Wright in general. She was patient with our two young kids, one of which asked a lot of questions. She was gracious and informative. We enjoyed seeing one of the Wright houses in Chicago, it didn't seem right to come here without seeing at least one of his buildings.

    Living room.
    Megan M.

    Absolutely stunning tour of this well-preserved FLW design from 1909. Incredible woodwork, gorgeous lighting, beautiful windows. Also has a great gift shop, and an informative tour guide (John). Well-worth the fee and a great rain-day activity.

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    Stunning architecture and Wayne's tour was really informative. Absolutely worth a visit!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Frederick C Robie House

    Review Highlights - Frederick C Robie House

    FLW only cared about the rooms people see, the public space, that was my take away from this experience...

    Mentioned in 34 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Skydeck Chicago - NEVER FORGET (look closely)

    Skydeck Chicago

    3.5(940 reviews)
    6.5 miThe Loop

    Let me start by saying the main purpose of this visit was to step outside of my comfort…read morezone--because I am terrified of heights. The staff at Skydeck Chicago were all very sweet and friendly throughout the experience. As you make your way up, you walk through a series of exhibits and fun facts about Chicago, which was a nice touch and made the wait feel more engaging. It really highlights what makes the city special. Once we reached the top, I quickly realized I had underestimated just how high the building actually is. When it was time to step out onto the ledge... I completely punked out! They tell you not to look down, but of course, your natural reaction is to do exactly that. There's a photographer ready to capture the moment when you step all the way out onto the glass, but truthfully, I couldn't make it all the way out. I gave it about 2.5 seconds of bravery before my fear kicked in! Even with my moment of panic, I'm still really glad I went. It was definitely an unforgettable experience and a fun way to challenge myself.

    Our activity while in Chicago was to check out the Sky Deck. Tickets were a bit pricey but, I…read morewould suggest trying Groupon for discounted tickets. The location is inside of building with a large food court. I was not expecting a full on museum of all of popular food, culture and celebrity natives of Chicago but, I absolutely love it. It was pretty crowded especially when we got upstairs however, the line was moving pretty quickly. We were able to take pictures and see great angles of the city. The Ledge was pretty cool. Definitely a must visit

    Photos
    Skydeck Chicago - Use your phone flash!

    Use your phone flash!

    Skydeck Chicago - Read sign if it's not obvious.

    Read sign if it's not obvious.

    Skydeck Chicago - Our friend living his best life

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    Our friend living his best life

    Chicago Riverwalk - PS. Chicago I love you.

    Chicago Riverwalk

    4.6(260 reviews)
    6.9 miThe Loop

    Very chill and relaxing. With much to see and get some nice steps in…read more Certainly recommend if you're looking to cut back on just spending money everywhere you go.

    One might expect me to be all doom and gloom about the sheer number of restaurants and bars along…read morethe river. Surprisingly, I won't be that guy, at least not this time. The main thing I really love about the Riverwalk is that it's a place in Chicago where someone can simply exist and vibe without the necessity of spending money. There is more than enough space to walk along the riverfront, take a seat, and enjoy the atmosphere. In terms of safety, there are more than enough "eyes on the street" as well as a visible police/private security presence. As with any high-traffic spot, use common sense, but other than a possible pickpocket, I don't foresee any issues. In terms of cleanliness, it is well-maintained, and I've not encountered any noticeable dirt, grime, or trash. I also really appreciate that the Riverwalk has both public bathrooms and is accessible! Accessibility needs no further explanation, and being able to wash up without buying an overpriced drink is worth its weight in gold. Another Yelper has compared it to the San Antonio River Walk and called out Chicago for having a shorter, less green "rip-off" of what one would find in Texas. However, I believe one should cast this comparison aside and judge the Chicago Riverwalk on its own merits. With that said... The final verdict: The Chicago Riverwalk is not your traditional, greenery-filled park. It is, however, a fantastic public space to take a stroll, have a bite, or just relax. Better still, while there is no shortage of tourists, it is an excellent destination for locals and visitors alike.

    Photos
    Chicago Riverwalk - 07.04.25 view of the Chicago River and the RiverWalk from Michigan Avenue Bridge

    07.04.25 view of the Chicago River and the RiverWalk from Michigan Avenue Bridge

    Chicago Riverwalk - Wrigley and Tribune buildings.

    Wrigley and Tribune buildings.

    Chicago Riverwalk - Trump tower dominates the skyline looking west.

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    Trump tower dominates the skyline looking west.

    Willis Tower - Entrance

    Willis Tower

    3.8(1.5k reviews)
    6.5 miThe Loop

    I've been here multiple times, both during the day and at night, and the views are always amazing!…read moreSeeing Chicago from the top never gets old -- daytime gives beautiful city and lake views, while nighttime is stunning with all the city lights. The Skydeck and glass ledge experience is super cool and definitely worth trying. The staff is also helpful and take really good pictures, which makes the visit even more memorable. Whether it's your first time or a repeat visit, this place is always worth it. One of my favorite attractions in Chicago!

    Spontaneous visit to Sears Tower on a Saturday afternoon! I haven't been here since I was a little…read morekid, and that was before they added The Ledge and before it was renamed to Willis Tower, so I've been wanting to come back to experience it again. Surprisingly on a Saturday around 1:30pm, it wasn't crowded at all and there was 0 wait times for anything. I loved the museum you walk through before getting to the elevator that takes you up. The part featuring Chicago foods and the mirrored deep dish pizza was especially cool. When we got up to the top, we enjoyed the amazing views and then headed over to The Ledge. There are two lines, but it did not take long at all because they only allow people 90 seconds to take photos and there are multiple ledges. There's also a bunch of restaurants located here, so you could truly just make a day out of it. They also have other exhibits sometimes, and I think this time around it was the Color Museum. Love that they also added a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop recently!

    Photos
    Willis Tower - Chamber music in the sky

    Chamber music in the sky

    Willis Tower - I was too afraid to step all the was back to the outer wall. Others were posing and having a blast. I'd do it again!

    I was too afraid to step all the was back to the outer wall. Others were posing and having a blast. I'd do it again!

    Willis Tower - Lots of fun photo ops while heading up to the tower.

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    Lots of fun photo ops while heading up to the tower.

    Cloud Gate - Cloud Gate ("The Bean")

    Cloud Gate

    4.6(983 reviews)
    6.7 miThe Loop

    My friends and I were here in the beginning of March so the first thing we had to do on our first…read morefull day was to check out Cloud Gate. First, you do not need a car to get around Chicago, this city is literally so walkable. We're girls from San Diego so this was so nice for us to be able to just walk from place to place! We got here around 10 am after some of group went to get breakfast and the other went had matcha. We met at Cloud Gate and wow it was such a cool experience to see something that I've always wanted to see. Very little people about, so we got a lot of great photos and the park Cloud Gate is around is so clean. Come here early in the am or at night if you want to have better photo options!

    Solid 4 star experience. Definitely an iconic spot and looks impressive in person as you'd expect…read more The surface is really cool, especially with the skyline and people moving around it so that makes it great for photos and a fun visual experience. It's also pretty crowded which takes away a bit from the moment and this can make it hard to get clean shots or just take it in without people constantly passing through. It also feels more like a quick stop than somewhere you spend a lot of time at. I wasn't really able to explore the surrounding park just because of the crowd. But it's a fairly straightforward attraction, you see it, take photos, and that's mostly it.

    Photos
    Cloud Gate - 07.04.25 touched the surface of The Bean... check!

    07.04.25 touched the surface of The Bean... check!

    Cloud Gate - 07.04.25 The Bean with Chicago's skyscrapers in the background and the clouds floating above

    07.04.25 The Bean with Chicago's skyscrapers in the background and the clouds floating above

    Cloud Gate - My wife, her parents, and me at the Bean.

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    My wife, her parents, and me at the Bean.

    Buckingham Fountain - ComEd's Switch on Summer

    Buckingham Fountain

    4.5(413 reviews)
    6.1 miSouth Loop, The Loop

    If you are vising Chicago, this is one of the not to be missed iconic landmarks. The Buckingham…read moreFountain is managed by the Chicago Park District is one of largest fountains in the world. It features impressive water displays and stunning architecture in the beautiful setting of Grant Park. The Buckingham Fountain was built at a cost of $750,00 and it was dedicated on August 12, 1927. Philanthropist Kate Buckingham donated the funds for the fountain as a tribute to her brother, Clarence who was an art collector of Japanese prints. Kate collected medieval sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts. In addition to the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain she also donated a statue honoring Alexander Hamilton in Lincoln Park and her family's art collection to the Art Institute of Chicago. Clarence Buckingham had been a governing member and a trustee of the Art Institute and Kate was influenced by his association with the institution. The Buckingham Fountain was designed by architect Edward H. Bennett in a classic Art Deco style out of pink marble. The sculptural elements were created by French artist Marcel Loyau. The fountain resembles a rococo style wedding cake and was inspired by the Bassin de Latone and modeled on the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles in France. The fountain symbolizes the vastness of Lake Michigan, with four groups of bronze seahorses representing the four states bordering the lake: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The fountain is able to propel 14,000 gallons of water per minute. At night the fountain comes alive with lights and dancing water jets. The fountain is known for being featured in the opening of the television show, Married with Children. The Buckingham Fountain stands as a symbol of Kate Buckingham's philanthropic generosity and her love for her brother and the City of Chicago. Enjoy a picnic one one of the well maintained lawns and seating areas near the fountain where you are to create a lasting memory in the heart of Chicago. I will always treasure my visit.

    Still five stars. It's running today and it's very crowded. Great to see so many people enjoying it!read more

    Photos
    Buckingham Fountain - Married with children fountain

    Married with children fountain

    Buckingham Fountain - IG: @ammysalamii

    IG: @ammysalamii

    Buckingham Fountain - IG: @ammysalamii

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    IG: @ammysalamii

    Frederick C Robie House - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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