Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise
October 2023
Our cousins were in town so we took them on a Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise, my fourth. They loved it! We had a terrific docent… Mark is super knowledgeable. We learned so much. It will be my pleasure to take this tour again and again as the landscape along the Chicago River changes over the years. Stacey
Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise
October 2023
We hay a great time during this tour. Thank you, Marc and captain for showing us around the city in this beautiful boat! Great idea after the 26.2 miles that we ran yesterday 🙂 Passenger
Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise
September 2023
Mark was fabulous! His engaging storytelling ability kept the entire audience captivated for the entire 90 minutes. I learned so much and left feeling fulfilled. The 7:30 tour gave us a stunning view of the skyline and a unique perception of the city. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Chicago! Baylee W
Tom Carmichael 2007 or Tom Lenz 2020
Chicago Icons
November 2023
Nice and informative tour! Enjoyed the history and beautiful architecture- thanks Tom for sharing your expertise. Arlene G
Tom Carmichael 2007, Tom Savick 2008, or Tom Stelmack 2017
River Cruise
November 2023
Wonderful tour! So much great information and history and beautiful views of so many buildings…Tom the docent was fantastic! Thank you! Lilly K
Tom Carmichael 2007, Tom Savick 2008, or Tom Stelmack 2017
River Cruise
October 2023
It was beautiful and very informing, I had no idea about the history behind the river and the genius solutions architects came up with for the skyscrapers. What really brought this together was Tom as he was stage one who taught all of this. I highly recommend this tour. Jules B
Susan Duda 2011, Susan Frost 2015, or Susan Pappas 2005
River Cruise
November 2023
The volunteer from the Chicago Architecture Center was excellent. Susan communicated a huge amount of information in an engaging way and was open to questions and conversations. We learnt a lot about Chicago, its history, architectural styles and notable people. Not forgetting the boat itself which was comfortable and well-staffed. We were also lucky to sit out on deck in pleasant weather, so check the forecast… ToursJones, United Kingdom
Wayne Galasek 2005 or Wayne Johnson 2016
River Cruise
November 2023
So educational, really changed the way I thought about my surroundings. Wayne the docent was incredibly knowledgeable and funny! Would recommend for a fun afternoon. Mallorie H
Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise
October 2023
We were extremely impressed by the volunteer – Steve – who did the commentary on the architecture tour we took. He spoke fluently without a script for most of the 90 minute tour. His timing was perfect and his knowledge of the buildings we passed seemed boundless. Libra_K1960 Farnham, UK.
Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise
September 2023
Our Captain Jose was Great!! Very Friendly. But More Impressive was our guide Steve. He did a MAGNIFICENT job! His knowledge of the buildings was So Impressive!!! He knew about almost Every building and was able to tell us information about them! Absolutely FABULOUS!!! And since they are NON-profit, they chose to Not accept any tips! I saw people from our group Try to tip our guide, but he politely refused. He just Loves sharing his knowledge!! I HIGHLY recommend this cruise!!!
Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise
September 2023
The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise is an absolute must-do. This captivating journey takes you through the heart of Chicago’s stunning skyline, providing a unique perspective on its architectural wonders. Steve, our very knowledgeable guide, narrated the city’s history, sharing fascinating stories about many of the iconic buildings. The Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise was top-notch. Mark, Elmhurst, IL
Douglas Harrison 2011 or Douglas Hurdelbrink 2019
River Cruise
October 2023
We were on the 12 noon boat on October 30. Our docent, Douglas, was amazing. His knowledge was incredible and his wit made this a very special experience. Mechanicsville, VA
Bill Hayden 2020, Bill Lee 2005, or Bill Lipsman 2009
River Cruise
October 2023
What a fun time! Our guide, Bill, was knowledgeable and engaging. We took so many photos. Highly recommended. Dawn D
John Ivory 2023 or John Slivka 2023
What’s New
November 2023
John was awesome. I’m a lifelong Chicagoan and I learned a lot with new perspectives on many buildings. David O
Lori Nelson 2020 or Lori Yelvington 2015
River Cruise
October 2023
This tour came highly recommended and it did not disappoint! Shout out to Lori, our docent, captivating us with her historical knowledge, architectural insight and love of her hometown. The beauty and architectural ingenuity of this city is stunningly displayed along the Chicago River. The views are breathtaking especially in the late afternoon. dianna j
John Schneider 2017 or John Tielsch 2015
Chicago Modern
October 2023
John I was so insightful and polite throughout the tour. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to learn about some of the newer sky scrapers in the city! Richard G
Cynthia Bates 2016
River Cruise
October 2023
There are a number of options in Chicago if you fancy an architectural boat trip. By chance, as we just happened to be walking past their ticket office, we booked with First Lady Cruises. Everything was as you’d expect, but what made the excursion was our guide Cynthia.
As we picked our way up river, Cynthia explained in detail how and why the development of this particular area of the city’s skyline had moved along across the years. Each building of note was covered in detail and by the end of the excursion we were hanging on her every word. There was a nice touch at the conclusion of the trip, where she jokingly said that she didn’t need to be tipped (at last……someone in Chicago that didn’t need tipping!), as she was quite happy to just take the fame that came with the position. As they say in America…….Cynthia, great job! Kirk F Birmingham, UK
Cynthia Bates 2016 or Cynthia Panganiban 2019
A Walk Through Time
December, 2023
I went on A Walk Through Time tour with Cynthia, and I really enjoyed learning about the history of the city and how it influenced the style of architecture over time. She pointed out the various features of each period, and it was really neat to compare and contrast various buildings’ characteristics. We touched on a good number of buildings, and the information was easy to understand and appreciate. I would consider other CAC tours the next time I visit Chicago. elJefe_TO Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mary Jane Beechen 2016
A Walk Through Time
October 2023
Excellent tour … So interesting…and guide by Mary Jane was very very good. So many interesting buildings. Sandra P
Phil Bierman 2023
River Cruise
October 2023
Great ride and learning experience! Phil, shared lots of interesting and fun facts and data of Chicago and its architecture. Totally worth the time! NachoGlz
Sandy Bredine 2001 or Sandy Guettler 2003
River Cruise
November 2023
This is the one to do. It’s a top Chicago experience! The ride was pleasant, the views were incredible, and our guide, Sandy, made it fun and educational. We’ve lived in the area for 20 years and somehow never did this–dismissed it as too touristy. Well be a tourist, do this, and have a blast. Jason L Wheaton, IL
Jane Cahill 2012
River Cruise
November 2023
Docent Jane Cahill’s tour was fabulous. A great introduction to Chicago architectural history, as well as giving a look at how the geography of the river influenced the choices made in creating the city today. A highly recommended tour; time well spent. The description of the QR Code building by Docent Jane Cahill made the tour. Joseph L
Mark Campbell 2023
River Cruise
November 2023
Our guide Mark Campbell was excellent I live here but learned so many new things, especially details about design. Susan E Chicago, IL
Debra Campbell 2011 or Debra Jean Frels 1989
Art Deco Skyscrapers Riverfront
December 2023
Deb was a fantastic tour guide and docent who provided an in-depth look at some extraordinary art deco building of Chicago. She had great information, was able to answer our questions, and made the tour feel very homey and comfortable. Look forward to taking more tours from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Rob B Chicago, IL
Rene Cantú 2023
Historic Treasures of Chicago
November 2023
Rene Cantú was an amazing guide. He really brought the enthusiasm and fun to the tour. I’ll definitely be taking more tours with the CAF! Safari0
Alice Daniele 2019
River Cruise
September 2023
This was a very interesting tour of Chicago. Alice the guide was amazing and so knowledgeable about the city and architecture. Gail P Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Dale Dassonville, Barbara Habschmidt, John Perrecone – Education Guides
Chicago: City of Architecture Tour
November 2023
Week 7 AIA Chicago Architects in Schools program: We took the kids on a Chicago Architecture Center tour throughout downtown. They learned some arch history of the city, sketched some cool buildings and then we stopped by Perkins+Will for lunch and a tour of the offices. The kids were able to see the life of a practicing architect and their environment. I think we had lots of fun and it’s very exciting to see what the future holds for this upcoming generation. Juan Azuero Architectural Designer in Chicago
Anne Findley 2023
River Cruise
September 2023
The trip was amazing learned so many interesting things about the Architecture well as well as a bit of city history that we never knew. Our guide Anne couldn’t have been any been any better always smiling and throwing in a little humor. I will be sure to recommend to friends who are coming in from Australia and want to see the city from the river. A+++ Lori F
Kent Foutty 2009
River Cruise
September 2023
Excellent tour. There are many tour operators out there and I have been on a few already in the past but this is the best one yet. Do not miss this tour… Kent was an excellent tour guide, one of the best I must say. Thank you for such an enjoyable tour. lisarimi, Frisco, TX
Wayne Galasek 2005 or Wayne Johnson 2016
River Cruise
October 2023
Had purchased tickets for the 3:30 tour but needed to be moved to the 4:00pm tour. THANK GOODNESS WE DID! We wouldn’t have had Wayne as our docent if we hadn’t! He had SO much knowledge about the different architecture styles, why design matters, and an incredible amount of interesting facts! He kept our two 18yo boys thoroughly engaged throughout the tour and they talked about him the rest of the evening! If you can book with Wayne, DO IT! Brooke O
Deb Garber 2012
Historic Skyscrapers
December 2023
Deb was an absolutely incredible guide. Even though it was a bit rainy, she was enthusiastic and SO informative. Not only did I love learning all the details about the development of skyscrapers in Chicago, I gained so much knowledge about the architecture and the history of Chicago. This tour was so worthwhile!!!! AngieDO Nebraska
Sharad Garbharran 2023
River Cruise
September 2023
My husband and I went on the Chicago Architectural Cruise at 3pm on 9/30/23 with Sharad as the docent. Sharad kept everyone’s attention throughout the 90 minute cruise giving us great information about the beautiful buildings as well as stories about the early days of Chicago. After the cruise he answered questions and provided additional information to the passengers. Sharad is a thorough professional with such a great personality. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to Sharad as our docent and will definitely return for another cruise with him. We have already told our family and friends to take this cruise with our fantastic docent Sharad!! Heena G
Delta Greene 2008
Historic Treasures
September 2023
A walking tour of historic treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age (1890-1930) was just wonderful. The docent for my tour was Delta and she provided a great experience, with her detailed knowledge and her obvious love of Architecture; but she also had stories, delightful background stories that enhanced the tour. Although I have lived in Chicago most of my life, she really helped me notice and appreciate what we have here. Great way to spend an afternoon! Anne C
Charles Gurian 2017
Art Deco Skyscrapers Loop
November 2023
The Art Deco tour is an amazing trip – we had a really good tour and whilst all of these tours do seem to tell similar stories, each one also has a slight twist that puts everything in perspective. Charles was brilliant, super informative and really interested, it was also really cool going into so any buildings = thanks, the tours we did with CAC helped make our trip really special. Roam
Joni Hirsch Blackman 2013
River Cruise
September 2023
Joanie’s commentary on the history and architecture of Chicago was fascinating. We didn’t want the tour to end. As we walk around town now, we know what we are seeing and look for some of the design elements she described in other buildings away from the river. Thank you, Joanie for a great afternoon! DadAndMom Los Altos, CA
Mary Jo Hoag 2007
Fine Arts Building
November 2023
It’s impossible not to love the Fine Arts Building. And Mary Jo, our guide really helped bring the story of this magical place alive. Nice small group. Lots of good information and interesting stops packed into just an hour. It was great to meet a couple folks in their studios. That was a great touch. Meander
Wayne Johnson 2016
Graceland Cemetery
October 2023
I took the Graceland Cemetery walking tour on October 29: there were several CAC docents leading groups (as, apparently, this is a popular Halloween tour!), and I was assigned to Wayne Johnson’s — and what luck was that! Wayne was entertaining, VERY knowledgeable, and kept us all engaged for the full 2 hours, even after it started to drizzle halfway through! The tour combines history and architecture – we visited the graves – and heard the stories – of Louis Sullivan, Ernie Banks, Potter and Bertha Palmer, Joseph Medill, and MANY more prominent Chicagoans. An unanticipated pleasure! J W
Judith Kaufman 2010
River Cruise
October 2023
We went mid-October, so the weather was really chilly, but Judith was our guide, she was great! It’s such a great way to learn history about the city and some gorgeous views of the river! Nicole W
Quentin Kossnar 2019
Elevated Architecture Tour
November 2023
This was a last minute tour, when visiting family Thanksgiving week. Quentin was a wealth of knowledge and genuinely enjoyed giving us the tour and sharing his knowledge. We would definitely recommend! OChayer
Amanda Lewis 2019
River Cruise
October 2023
Amanda was a wonderful tour guide! Her presentation and knowledge of the architecture was amazing. We were really fortunate to have a clear day for the tour. Seeing the buildings and learning the history was so interesting. There are many photo opportunities to capture the skyline. Don’t miss this one! Jill Helgeson Anderson, SC
Terry Light 2023
What’s New
October 2023
Amazing! Terry did a great job! Definitely recommend! We had a great time walking around and looking at all the buildings! Terrilyn W
Kelly Manteck 2020
Must-See Chicago
December 2023
We had a great time and learned a ton with Kelly today! She knew all about the buildings and, since we had an unexpected detour, we got to hear some cool facts about other buildings as well and it was super fun. Highly recommend!
Katie Martin 2023
Historic Treasures
October 2023
Katie was extremely informative and engaging. She is an excellent tour guide, I highly recommend taking this tour and would come back again! Claire C
Marcia Matavulj 2008
Art Deco Skyscrapers Loop
November 2023
This is an excellent walking tour of the most beautiful Art Deco buildings in the loop and offers the opportunity to enter many buildings to examine the interior features. On our tour, CAC docent Marcia presented the history and design of each building visited clearly and encouraged questions. Highly recommended, and don’t forget to check the exhibits at the CAC.
Burt Michaels 2019
What’s New
October 2023
Great, casual walking tour of Chicago’s architectural highlights! Even after living here for several years I still learned so much about how much the city has contributed to modern architecture. Burt was wonderful and kept the tour lively. Jonathan B. T
Patricia O’Connor 2020
River Cruise
September 2023
I really enjoyed the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard the First Lady. The docent (Patricia) was fantastic and I learned so much. She said she did not accept tips but appreciated a review. I’m happy to comply. Chicago’s architecture is just WOW. Loved this tour. Lynda W Chicago, IL
Chris Pausch 2019
River Cruise
November 2023
Chris was an AMAZING tour guide! Very pleasant, knowledgeable and fun! I strongly recommend doing this tour as a way to understand Chicago’s history and some of its main features as a city 🙂 Nicholas K
Bob Pratt 2019
River Cruise
September 2023
Excellent architectural tour with informative narration by Bob P. The weather was beautiful and sunny and the Chicago River was calm. Could not have asked for a better experience. Chicago’s architecture is unbeatable and engineering marvels. Great experience! Cynthia L
Barry Sears 1992
Louis Sullivan Tour
November 2023
Please accept this donation and my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Barry Sears who went on far out his way to show me the magnificent Louis Sullivan buildings and especially the Auditorium building this weekend. Will never forget how lovely they are. Timothy Sandefur
Alison Schlickman 2015
River Cruise
November 2023
Alison was amazing and the tour was amazing! We learned so much about Chicago’s architecture! We went in mid-November the weather was great and the views are amazing! All the love and best ❤️ Astrid S
John Schneider 2017
River Cruise
November 2023
Very informative and interesting tour. John S was a great guide. There are restrooms and a bar on board if needed/desired. You get to see a lot of older and newer buildings. I think it’s worth it. Steven C.Elite, Cerritos, CA
Nancy Schwab 2011
Historic Skyscrapers
November 2023
My tour with Nancy was absolutely great! Her knowledge about the city’s architecture is so impressive. It was just a great experience. Agnieszka L
Russ Seward 2005
River Cruise
September 2023
Russ, our guide, was incredible. We learned so much. He was friendly and approachable. What a huge commitment to do that tour. Loved it!!! Laura M
Peter Shearn 2023
River Cruise
October 2023
Peter was an excellent and informative host. We really loved the boat tour and would highly recommend to others. kyliemez Buderim, Australia
Paul Shoun 2023
What’s New
November 2023
I’m a local, but that’s the beauty of the What’s New tour. I learned about new buildings, new architectural styles including ‘post-tension concrete’, new LEED features that help protect birds, and much more! Easygoing docent, Paul, also provided insightful historical context. Definitely an enjoyable afternoon! ksgnat
Ronnie Jo Sokol 2006
River Cruise
November 2023
Ronnie Jo was the best guide I’ve ever had the privilege to ride with. She was so incredibly intelligent! Lina V
Matthew Soto 2023
Historic Treasures
November 2023
Matthew was our fabulous guide as he led us through the beautiful architectural gems of Chicago. He was knowledgeable, educated and intertwined history, the storied past and stunning architecture of Chicago. This tour is a treasure! Highly recommend! Ann M Victor, NY
Lydia Spettel 2023
River Cruise
September 2023
We had a wonderful tour led By Lydia!! I give her 5+Stars!!! Her knowledge of the architecture, history of the river and development of Chicago made for an outstanding experience! lawrence n
Mary Wacker 2015
River Cruise
November 2023
I took a boat tour and our docent Mary was knowledgeable, funny, and engaging to listen to. I would definitely plan on doing another tour the next time I’m in Chicago. Becca H. Fairfax, VA
Maureen Waller 2023
What’s New
October 2023
Lots of great info on the newest additions to the Chicago skyline. Maureen was a font of knowledge about each building. Adam D
Peter Weil 2015
Chicago Icons
December 2023
Peter was a wonderful tour guide. He showed my husband, daughter and I quite a few buildings, explained the different types of architecture, and gave us some historical perspective. We started at the CAC and ended at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. We learned about Beaux-Artes, Modern, Post-Modern and Contemporary architecture. It was mostly outside but he took us inside some to see beautiful interior details. Peter clearly knows his stuff and is a passionate and engaging guide. Highly recommend! Kimberlyn Drew
Mike Weiland 1984
River Cruise
October 2023
There may be cheaper options but this one is a must to get insights into the city’s architecture et history, guides are voluntary from the architecture center and really knowledgeable and passionate! Thank you to Mike our guide today for a lasting memory of a short stay in Chicago! (Note comments are only in English). AlineTernet Toulouse, France
Claudia Winkler 2007
River Cruise
September 2023
Claudia made learning about the Chicago River architecture fantastic! This is an absolutely do not miss event. Patricia S
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