We start our tour at one of the most interesting buildings in the Loop — the Fine Arts Building.  Built in 1884 as a showroom and office complex, the building was converted later into its present-day use. Then we're off to the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library, the design of which was the winner of a competition to design a new library for the city.  From there, we'll view three Chicago landmarks built in the late 1800s, then visit the beautiful Marquette Building, the Field Building (built on the site of the world's first modern skyscraper) and then see the amazing atrium lobby of the world-renowned Rookery Building. Next, we're off to the beautifully-restored Quincy L stop (authentic 1897 design) to take the train to our last stops.  We visit the iconic Macy's to see the beautiful Tiffany mosaic then we wrap up the tour at the Cultural Center to experience the world's largest Tiffany dome. Make a day of it and book our Pedway or Historic Pubs tour for the afternoon!

Chicago is home to some of the world’s earliest skyscrapers. Get an up-close look at these 19th Century marvels, learn about innovations used to build them and discover how they transformed Chicago into a center of skyscraper design and engineering. Highlights on this walking tour include Burnham and Root’s Rookery (1888), a transitional building with a Moorish and Romanesque exterior and a stunning interior atrium re-designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; Adler and Sullivan’s Auditorium Building (1889), a masterpiece of acoustical and structural engineering; and Holabird and Roche’s Marquette Building (1895), an outstanding example of the metal frame expression with traditional details and decorations. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.

Discover the hidden interiors of Chicago's most iconic buildings on a guided architecture tour. Explore the Rookery, Chicago Cultural Center, Marquette Building, and Chicago Board of Trade Building.

Eat, drink and discover Chicago's Loop and River North neighborhoods on our Chicago historic pub tour via the Brown Line!  Join us on this "over age 21" adventure for a combination of great Chicago stories and adult beverages as we tour historic sites and legendary pubs in the city’s Near North Side. We'll kick off our Chicago tour at the beautiful Marquette Building then head to the Adams Street Brewery, part of The Berghoff, Chicago's oldest, continuously-operating restaurant for a drink and a snack. Next stop, we board the Brown Line for a brief train ride to River North. In River North, we'll visit Brehon Pub with a fascinating story involving bribery and the Chicago media. The Green Door Tavern is next on our list. It's the oldest pub in Chicago and sits above a well-hidden, authentic Prohibition-era speakeasy.  We'll then board the train again and make our way back to the Loop where we'll have "last call" at historic, antique-filled Monk's Pub.