Daniel Burnham, Louis H. Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe . . . Chicago is a city of great architecture. And there’s no better way to gain an appreciation for it’s history than by taking a tour led by a knowledgeable docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF).

Here are four (of many) tours you might consider:

  • Explore downtown Chicago and visit beautiful art deco skyscrapers.
  • Admire art glass and mosaics by Tiffany Glass in several landmark Chicago buildings. The tour fee includes general admission to the Art Institute.
  • Sit back and enjoy the skyline vistas on a river cruise. In addition to all you’ll learn about the city’s architectural history, you’ll also get the best unobstructed photo of the Sears Tower!
  • Have you read Devil and the White City? Learn about the site and circumstances surrounding the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, the backdrop for this chilling story. The special companion tour is offered on Thursday, May 22nd at 10:30 AM.

CAF tours are offered on all days of the week; visit their website to see which will work best with your conference schedule. Fees range from $5 for tours of individual, historic buildings, to $30 for the river cruise.

Insider tip: The shop at the CAF ArchiCenter is a great place to pick up an unusual gift or Chicago souvenir. They are located at 224 S. Michigan Ave., at the corner of Michigan and Jackson.

-Kristin Hitchcock