The following tours are looking for docents. Please only apply for tours if you are willing to participate in all training sessions and certify, and give the tour on a regular basis. Also, please allow all docents the opportunity to learn these tours – don’t apply for all of them!
Please note the schedules for the tours and make sure that you only apply for tours that you are available to give. If you are interested, reach out to the tour directors via email by February 15th.
Core Tours
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What’s New
Tour Director(s): Mary Jo Hoag, ma*******@sb*******.net and Emily Clott, em********@ya***.com
2022 Tour Dates/Schedule: Wednesday – 11:30 a.m., Friday – 2:30 p.m.
Number of Docents to Recruit: 10
Training Expectations: Tour Overview (Zoom) March 3 4:30 pm, Demo Tour March 19, In-person coaching April 2 and April 23. Certification by May 15.
Tour Highlights: This tour is unlike anything else we give – it focuses completely on new buildings, their plans, construction, use of materials and intended users. The tour is 90 minutes and the route is fairly short compared to other walking tours we give and it is completely accessible!
Elevated Architecture: Downtown “L” Train
Tour Director(s): Steve Redfield, st**************@gm***.com and Matthew Sheffer, ma**@sh*****.io
2022 Tour Dates/Schedule: Friday – Monday at 11:30 a.m.
Number of Docents to Recruit: 10
Training Expectations: Tour Overview (Zoom) March 12, Demo Tour March 19, In-person coaching April 2 and April 16. Certification by May 15
Tour Highlights: This fast-paced, 2-hour tour explores Chicago’s amazing architecture from the unique perspective of our famous elevated trains and station platforms. In addition to highlighting architecturally significant buildings from various eras, the tour presents the history of the elevated trains and the dramatic and entertaining story of creating the downtown Loop.
Neighborhood/Building Tours
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The neighborhood and building tours listed below are all looking for new docents. Most are looking for just 1-2 docents. It is best to choose just one, or possibly two, tours that you are really committed to giving. If you are interested, contact the tour director.
Beverly North and South
Tour Director(s): Barry Bruckner, rb*******@ho*****.com and Cynthia Everett, cy************@gm***.com
Tour Highlights: Tour one of Chicago’s most fascinating neighborhoods, Beverly, where you’ll see large homes on large lots including a Frank Lloyd Wright home and part of Chicago’s Longwood Drive Landmark District.
Columbia College Student Center
Tour Director: Mary Jo Hoag, ma*******@sb*******.net
Tour Highlights: The Columbia Student Center tour explores a remarkable building designed specifically for Columbia College Chicago. The tour explores how the stunning Student Center incorporates sustainable elements while addressing the needs of the student body for a common area in which to meet, collaborate, exercise, and rest.
Gold Coast Dearborn
Tour Director: Virginia Gerst, vg****@gm***.com
Tour Highlights: This tour showcases beautifully preserved examples of domestic architecture of the early 1900s in this 90 minute walk along three blocks of Dearborn Street in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast.
Historic Austin
Tour Directors: Karen Clapp, bu*******@sb*******.net and Tom Drebenstedt, ch*******@sb*******.net
Tour Highlights: This tour explores the architectural gems of Austin, a former railroad suburb on Chicago’s West Side. See works by prominent architects including Frederick Schock, William Drummond and Dwight Perkins.
Historic Evanston Along the Lake
Tour Directors: Ingrid Zeller, iz*****@no**********.edu and Bonnie Moore, BM*******@ao*.com
Tour Highlights: This tour explores a variety of churches and residences in the town that became Daniel Burnham’s “country retreat” and which is still considered one of Chicago’s most desirable suburbs.
Lake Bluff
Tour Directors: Tina Strauss, Th*******@ao*.com and Michael Weiland, ml*******@co*****.net
Tour Highlights: This tour traces the history Lake Bluff from its beginning as Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association to the formation of the village with its variety of significant architectural styles including a Frank Lloyd Wright tract house and a home from the 1933 Century of Progress.
Lake Forest Cemetery
Tour Directors: Tina Strauss Th*******@ao*.com and Michael Weiland, ml*******@co*****.net
Tour Highlights: This is a beautiful cemetery overlooking Lake Michigan and highlights the story of Lake Forest’s founding and those who have made their mark from the Civil War to modern times.
Lights, Camera, Architecture
Tour Directors: John Morris js****@rc*.com and Michael Weiland ml*******@co*****.net
Tour Highlights: This tour showcases over a dozen buildings that have been featured in popular movies including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Batman and Blues Brothers.
NEW Humboldt Park
Tour Directors: Tom Drebenstedt ch*******@sb*******.net and John Paige j.*****@co*****.net
We walk the historic core of the largest West Side parks, created by many including William LeBaron Jenney and Jens Jensen. We discuss architecture and sculpture that honor many of the immigrant groups that have created our city.
Lincoln Park: Cemetery to Sculpture Garden
Tour Directors: Barbara Clark cl*******@ya***.comr and Dick Clark rc*****@wi**********.com
Tour Highlights: This tour is a pleasant walk through beautiful Lincoln Park – a former cemetery turned recreation destination. The route zigzags through the park and highlights statues, fountains and wonderful buildings including Café Brauer and the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
Palmer House
Tour Directors: Joan Stewart, st**********@at*.net and Russ Seward, or*****@gm***.com
Tour Highlights: This is an in-depth building tour of the magical Palmer House hotel. It won awards for its beautiful restoration. The tour showcases some areas of the hotel that reflect Classical Revival and Art Deco design and some French Empire and Rococo influences and features a history of the Palmers.