Jim Bartholomew 2008 or Jim Javorcic 1999
River Cruise, September 2023
The Chicago Architecture Center, boat tour was the highlight of our time in your beautiful city. This was our first time here and Jim gave us a wonderful perspective. The interesting styles and the thoughts, of those that planned and built all these building was truly eye-opening. The stories of how they shaped Chicago was incredibly interesting. Including the subtlety of design influences, like the use of multi-hued glass or divergent shapes brought style to so Many buildings. Thank you Jim. Marc New York City, NY
John Blackburn 2017, John Hug 1999, John Ivory 2023, John Slivka 2023, or John Tielsch, 2015
Historic Treasures, September 2023
John was a great tour guide. We learned so much about Chicago architecture. I enjoyed the back stories he shared about the architects, and building histories. I would recommend John’s CAF tours. Marciakitt
Barbara Brotman 2023, Barbara Clark 2006, or Barbara Weiner 2011
Historic Treasures, September 2023
Highly recommend! Barbara was so knowledgeable and really loves what she does! Such great information and easy walking tour. Nikki V
Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise, August 2023
The architecture of the Chicago riverfront was wonderfully described by Mark, our docent. I came away from the experience with a deeper appreciation for the artistry and history on display. The tour was also surprisingly funny. Calvin Z
Tom Carmichael 2007, Tom Savick 2008, or Tom Stelmack 2017
River Cruise, July 2023
Tom is an incredible docent! One of the more engaging boat tours I’ve done. Would absolutely ride with him again. Lizz Evalen Chicago, IL
Tom Carmichael 2007, Tom Savick 2008, or Tom Stelmack 2017
River Cruise, July 2023
Tom was fantastic – knowledgeable, charismatic, passionate, personable – a true urban scholar. 10/10 tour. Michelle
Karen Dimond 1979 or Karen Genelly 1978
River Cruise, August 2023
Great architecture tour lead by Kareen (sic), who was very knowledgeable. Great way to see the city by river! Amanda Jackson
Susan Duda 2011, Susan Frost 2015, or Susan Pappas 2005
River Cruise, September 2023
Wonderful architecture tour aboard the Chicago First Lady led by docent Susan! Had many visitors join us from all over the world for a beautiful day on the river. It was so informative and personable and full of interesting facts that our guests left with a terrific experience. Thanks Susan, captain and crew!! D-H-US Pune, India
Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise, August 2023
This trip lives up to all the hype as the number one thing to do on a visit to Chicago! Our guide, Steve, was so knowledgeable and gave us fun and interesting facts along the river journey. The cruise lasts around 1.5hrs, taking you along 3 different parts of the river. The last view, from the lake back to the city is truly stunning. Well worth your time whilst in Chicago! Tracy M Nottinghamshire, UK
Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise, September 2023
We had an absolutely amazing tour with the architecture cruise with Steve as our tour guide. It was such a fascinating tour where we (were) given insight into the history of Chicago and the waterway itself. Could not recommend enough!! Adam H
Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise, September 2023
Love the tour so much. Thank you Steve for the amazing introduction about the buildings! Love the culture and the history Stay54781696105
Bill Hayden 2020, Bill Lee 2005, or Bill Lipsman 2009
River Cruise, September 2023
Bill was an exceptional guide. Perfect voice for the job; clear, loud, precise…. Could hear and understand every word. This tour is wonderful! Highly recommend. Tasha S
Bill Hayden 2020, Bill Lee 2005, or Bill Lipsman 2009
River Cruise, September 2023
Informative and very interesting tour from local resident Bill, whose knowledge, enthusiasm and obvious love for his city and its architects was infectious. You will want to research more and the time was just right to give a flavour of the city’s architecture. Anything less than 90 minutes would not do the city justice. WandaSnow Lancashire, UK
Bill Lee 2005, Bill Lipsman 2009, or Bill Page 2001
Historic Treasures, August 2023
Amazing history and beautiful buildings. Bill was an amazing tour guide very friendly and knowledgeable. Kevin M
Tom Lenz 2020 or Tom Stelmack 2017
A Walk Thru Time, August 2023
We enjoyed their walking tour, ‘Chicago, A Walk Through Time’ and it was excellent! The tour was 90 minutes and our docent Tom was very knowledgeable and passionate about the architecture and history of the great city of Chicago. Highly recommend to visitors and locals for an appreciation of the finest architecture of a major U.S. city. Shelley Benson
Bob Levy 2023, Bob Pratt 2019, or Bob Sutter 2019
River Cruise, September
We had a great time on this architectural tour. Our guide, Bob, was amazing. He really made the trip a wonderful experience. We saw many buildings, learning their style and getting a flavor for the history of Chicago, the interesting stories of many of the buildings and the architectural firms and styles presented on the trip. Traveler11000 Scarsdale, NY
Kathy Baker 2016
River Cruise, September 2023
Cathy our guide was excellent, the boat was very comfortable and the weather couldn’t have been better for the cruise around the marvelous city of Chicago!! Carolina D
Cynthia Bates 2016
River Cruise, August 2023
Really enjoyed this river cruise and would definitely do it again. Our guide Cynthia was great, sharing lots of interesting information, and it was a really nice way to spend a couple hours. Highly recommend. FarAway21403011352
Mary Jane Beechen 2016
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Loop, September 2023
So neat to see the details inside the buildings! Mary Jane pointed out so many deco details throughout. Worth it! Kaitlyn S
Beth Benjamin 2023
Historic Treasures, September 2023
As a longtime resident of Chicago (& now the suburbs) it was great to hear the history of these beautiful buildings! And to see buildings that I’ve never even noticed before. It was a 2 hour tour and Beth, our docent, was fabulous – keeping the entire tour interesting and the whole group engaged. I can’t wait to do more tours through the Chicago Architecture Center with my kids!
Phil Bierman 2023
River Cruise, September 2023
We absolutely LOVED Phil – great guide. He was knowledgeable and fun. It was a great humorous tour that allowed us to learn and relax. Tayler B
Jane Cahill 2005
River Cruise, September 2023
I chose this tour specifically as it is led by docents from the Chicago Architecture Center. Jane was very knowledgeable, engaging and energetic. This is truly a tour about architecture, with a little bit of history thrown in for context. Jane answered our questions and provided some excellent recommendations on what else to see in the city. Highly recommend. tsnordstrom Los Angeles, CA
Rene Cantu 2023
What’s New, July 2023
I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life and have never done a tour of the city before and will definitely be doing it again! It was such a fun and different way to view the city! Our guide, René was so informative and collaborative—I can’t believe how much I learned in just an hour and a half about Streeterville. I can’t wait to do another tour! Jolene M
Alice Daniele 2019
River Cruise, August 2023
We had the pleasure of going on this boat tour in July 2023. Our guide was Alice Danielle and she packed the talk with lots of fascinating yet accessible info, suitable for all ages (we were a group aged 10 to 60s). She shared with us a nice mix of historic and contemporary facts about the origins and development of Chicago’s buildings and architectural heritage. This was quite a feat as the skyline in Chicago has changed so much, even since we were last there in 2014. Thanks again Alice, it was such a pleasure, and a highlight of our trip. Kate O Dublin, Ireland
Anne Findley 2023
River Cruise, September 2023
What an amazing trip. Docent Anne was just the right balance of smart, funny, animated, professional and friendly! Definitely recommend…we will go again…this time there were 8 of us! Amazing buildings, skyline and water! Patt K
Kent Foutty 2009
River Cruise, August 2023
Our tour guide Ken was awesome. Loved the contrast of styles and learned so much about the history of the river and the architecture. Joe A
Sharad Garbharran 2023
River Cruise, September 2023
CAC River Cruise with Docent Sharad was OUTSTANDING! The content was superb- jam packed with entertaining and accurate information about Chicago, its history, and all of the stunning architecture, Sharad is personable, charismatic, funny, passionate and professional. We are already planning our next cruise and will make sure we pick one with our favorite CAC River Docent. Paige L
Georgia Goldberg 2012
River Cruise, August 2023
This was a marvelous way to see and find out about the variety and rich history of the buildings in central Chicago. The first class commentary of our guide Georgia was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and clearly communicated. At the end of the trip she was a great ambassador for the Architecture Centre with her friendly and helpful advice that resulted in us enjoying a further Centre tour the following day. Hamish C
Steve Haddad 2020
River Cruise, September 2023
There are many choices when it comes to taking these architecture cruises, some that are less expensive too, but THIS is the one to take. The guides on these boats (volunteer/docents) are basically historians that are masterminds when it comes to storytelling. The views are phenomenal, yes, but you definitely want to be guided by someone who understands the stories behind the river, the buildings, and the city. Steve H did an excellent job. I’m a tour guide myself (based in LA) and I was in AWE with his level of detail and the way he organized his storytelling. These guys are non-profit and they clearly have a passion for showing off one of the greatest cities in the world. TheFirstNoelleIsh Los Angeles, CA
Siobhan Hartsell 2015
River Cruise, August 2023
Siobhan was incredibly knowledgeable, articulate, and professional. She had a great deal of positive energy & passion in talking about her hometown. JA
Joni Hirsch Blackman 2013
River Cruise, September 2023
Outstanding. Joanie the tour guide was brilliant! This was the highlight of our trip to Chicago. Highly recommended Getaway13404917792
Mary Jo Hoag 2007
What’s New, August 2023
The originator of this tour, Mary Jo, led us on a fascinating 90-minute exploration of the area just across the river from the Architecture Center. We learned about contemporary trends and design innovations, viewing new buildings completed within the past ten years. Ann Hicks M Winter Park, FL
Betsy Jenkins 2016
Art Deco: Riverfront Favorites, August 2023
We did the Art Deco Skyscraper Tour along the Riverwalk yesterday. Betsy was superb and made the ninety minute tour both pleasurable and educational. As I CAC member, I was proud of her. Robin LeNoach Grams
Judith Kaufman 2010
River Cruise, August 2023
Fabulous tour. The docent, Judith, was great. She approached us while we were waiting to line up and engaged us in conversation. She was very charming and kind. When the tour started she shared very interesting information about everything we were seeing in a warm and fascinating style. The boat ride was great, and the drinks were excellent. I would recommend this to anyone visiting the city. Abe H Denver, CO
Teresa Klier 2023
Historic Treasures, September 2023
I learned about this tour when I took the riverboat tour. Our guide Therese provided a lot of interesting information on the buildings that are not on the waterfront. It’s a great compliment to the riverboat tour as you go inside most of the buildings and hear about their unique designs and attributes. I chose to do this tour despite the rain, and it was still a lot fun! Chicago has so many spectacular buildings that must be seen and appreciated for the design, craftsmanship and beauty. Highly recommend! Tsnordstrom Los Angeles, CA
Sann Knipple 2023
River Cruise, August 2023
Sann was an awesome guide and host. She was very informative. I learned so much today about the City of Chicago. Thank you for your dedication! Brad Brown Baltimore, MD
Terry Light 2023
Historic Treasures, September 2023
Terry is great! I learnt a lot and visited the inside of buildings and discovered unexpected treasures. Top walking tour. Luisa R
Kelly Manteck 2020
A Walk Thru Time, September 2023
I took this tour with Kelly, and she was phenomenal. She is extremely knowledgeable and clearly passionate about architecture. The hour and a half flew by quickly. Of all the CAC tours I’ve taken, this was my favorite, thanks to Kelly. ashvlgirl Asheville, NC
Cyndi Martin 2016
River Cruise, August 2023
The history was fascinating and the views were epic! Cindy (sic) was a great guide and she really captured the magic of Chicago. Hitesh L
Katie Martin 2023
Historic Treasures, September 2023
An amazing tour!!! Even as a current Chicagoan, I learned so much about the buildings I see every day! Katie was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history and architecture, and she made the tour so fun with little bits of insights about what was going on at the time. I’ve taken the boat architecture tour (and loved that too!) but what I really enjoyed about the walking tour is we could spend a lot of time talking about each building and see some INCREDIBLE interiors! Highly recommend! Sarah Kennedy Chillan, Chile
Jennifer McAllister 2004
Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Loop, September 2023
Jennifer was amazing!! This was incredibly interesting to learn about. Art deco is a super interesting design format. Zach R Astoria, New York
Paul Meyers 2009
Art Deco: Riverfront Favorites, September 2023
Our guide Paul Myers informative and enthusiastic insight into the iconic buildings we visited and their Art Deco style and features was most enjoyable and interesting. Particularly liked the opportunity to see the entrance halls of the buildings which we couldn’t have done otherwise. Hamish C
Burt Michaels 2019
Magnificent Architecture of the Magnificent Mile, September 2023
This is a very interesting tour. I loved it. Very educative. And Burt was amazing! Highly recommend this tour! Thanks Chicago Architecture Center! Cecilia M Orlando, FL
Patricia O’Connor, 2020
River Cruise, August 2023
This is the best tour company to go with. The docents are actually architects, or students or teachers. They are extremely knowledgeable. I’ve been on other tours and the guides I had were hokey and didn’t provide much architectural information. Patricia was our docent on our most recent tour and she was excellent! Suzanne A
Chris Pausch 2019
Elevated Architecture: Downtown ‘L’ Train, September 2023
We took the Elevator Train Tour with Chris and he was great. Very informative, strong voice and knowledgeable. It was one of those tours that you kind of think “An elevated train tour, really? What am I going to learn?” A lot! The history, design and a great way to learn more about the city. Sandi H.
Bob Pratt 2019
River Cruise, September 2023
This tour was absolutely perfect, from the amazing views and super tasty drinks and Bob P’s excellent and interesting guide, I was in heaven as someone who studied architecture. Thank you to all the crew who made this tour so perfect! Mary J
Sonia Reardon 2023
Historic Treasures or What’s New, September 2023
Great intro to Chicago for an out of town couple. Our Docent Sonia was great and had a ton of knowledge and insight. Thank you Sonia!!! Arun L. Frederick, MD
Mitch Rosenfeld 2016
A Walk Thru Time, September 2023
The tour was great and our volunteer guide Mitch was superb- so knowledgeable and easy to interact with. Susan S
Marcia Ross 1994
River Cruise, September 2023
Marsha was our guide and she was amazing and knew so much information. Would highly recommend this tour. stephanie m
Russ Seward 2005
River Cruise, August 2023
Had a great time with a group of friends on Chicago’s First Lady Architecture Tour. I learned so much about the architecture and history of Chicago and the Chicago River. Russ was our guide and he was very knowledgeable and a fun presenter. It’s a beautiful way to spend the day in Chicago. Kristine B
David Shaw 2023
River Cruise, August 2023
Their Architecture River Cruise is worth every penny! We did the 5:30 pm tour and the weather and light was phenomenal, but the best was David, our tour guide, which explained everything wonderfully, thank you!
Peter Shearn 2023
River Cruise, September 2023
Most excellent 90 minute tour. Peter the tour guide was fantastic. Clearly knowledgeable and kept us all hanging on his every word. I will look at buildings in an entirely different way from now on! There’s a bar and toilets onboard. Boat was clean and had plenty of seating up on the top deck. Staff were all friendly and helpful from ticketing to disembarking. Well worth the money. DuckTails2013 Surrey, U
Ronnie Jo Sokol 2006
River Cruise, July 2023
Ronnie Jo was incredible! We absolutely loved the tour and her obvious passion for Chicago architecture. It was such a lovely time and we would absolutely do it again! Kelly M
Lydia Spettel 2023
River Cruise, September 2023
Great to learn the story behind some of the great buildings of Chicago- and more in-depth than other tours. Lydia did an awesome job- very energetic. laserdoc Denver, CO
Paula Tironi 2023
What’s New, September 2023
The tour covered a part of the city which I really had not visited even though I live very close and I learned a lot from Paula. I’m a member of the CAC and frequently repeat walking tours because I always learn something new and on this tour I learned many new things. Inspire765823
Maureen Waller 2023
Historic Treasures, September 2023
We had a fabulous tour with Maureen. She is so knowledgeable and pace was perfect. The distance walked was just right. There is so much beauty in this city and the civil rural center at the end is such a gem. I highly recommend this tour! Cath A
Michael Weiland 1984
River Cruise, September 2023
This is a must do for every Chicago newcomer. First Lady is the official CAG tour. 90 minutes, plenty of room, great guide. We had Mike the Map Maker. This CAC docent knows it all – good bits of nerdy info, great energy & knowledge (he moves the rating from 4 to 5)! leslee w
Jessica Williams 2017
River Cruise, August 2023
An absolutely fabulous tour cruise! IF YOU ARE IN CHICAGO, THIS IS A MUST! Our guide, Jessica, was terrific, knowledgeable, and fun. She shared so much fascinating information about the amazing architecture of Chicago along the way. There was never a dull moment. JCenRD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Claudia Winkler 2007
River Cruise, August 2023
This was a wonderful 90 minute tour; Claudia was our guide, she was amazing. She never read from a script. Fact checking on the fly demonstrated that she was very accurate. She had a great sense of humor. She only stopped when we were under a noisy bridge or sirens were nearby. Really excellent. We would go back in a minute – just to catch more information. This was an excellent value. drbobstl Saint Louis, MO
Jeffrey Zurlinden 2015
Art Deco: Riverfront Favorites, September 2023
I attended Art Deco Skyscrapers Riverfront presented by docent Jeffrey 2015. The tour was highly informative. Jeffrey had so much passion and enthusiasm for the buildings. It was as we had traveled back in time for a stroll through the 1920’s. Highly recommend it. Mkz_11 Chicago, Illinois
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