Hello Docents and Volunteers –
The CAC now expects to resume Center operations and tours that depart from the CAC on July 3. This open date will coincide with the new proposed start of river cruises, July 3. Please keep in mind that this is subject to change based on city guidelines but we are hopeful for a July 3 open date and in preparation for this, are ready to open tour and Exhibit Host shift signups. Signups will be available tomorrow, Saturday, June 20 at 10 am. We will open with a very limited tour schedule and limited Center hours.
The information for signups applies to tours departing from the CAC and our Historic Skyscrapers and Art Deco Loop tours (not any bus tours, neighborhood, or building tours), plus river cruises and Exhibit Host shifts. As mentioned in previous emails, we are starting our schedule with Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time, Mid Century Modern, and Must-See Chicago. We chose these because of their limited interiors. We will not be entering any building interiors at this time on any CAC tour. As we progress through phases, we hope to expand with more tour offerings. Below is a list of the departures for quick reference – please note that tour departure times have changed since previous communication.
Chicago Architecture: A Walk Through Time
10:30am Sunday, Thursday, Saturday
1pm Friday
3pm Sunday, Monday, Friday
Mid Century Modern
10:30am Monday, Friday
1pm Sunday
3pm Saturday
Must-See Chicago
1pm Monday, Thursday, Saturday
3pm Thursday
Historic Skyscraper (departures beginning June 20), departing from Auditorium Building
1:30 Monday
10:30 Thursday
3:30 Saturday
Art Deco Loop (departures beginning June 20), departing from (in front of) 30 N. LaSalle
2pm Sunday
1:30 Wednesday
River Cruise (departures beginning July 3)
Friday, July 3rd: 2:30p, 5p, 7:30p
Saturday, July 4th: 10a, 12:30p, 3p, 5:30p
Sunday, July 5th: 10a, 12:30p, 3p, 5:30p
Friday, July 10th: 2:30p, 5p, 7:30p
Saturday, July 11th: 10a, 12:30p, 3p, 5:30p
Sunday, July 12th: 10a, 12:30p, 3p, 5:30p
It is the hope that the river cruise schedule will be expanded after Jul 12, but that schedule is still being created by our partner, Chicago’s First Lady.
Center Hours and Exhibit Host Shifts
We currently expect for the Center to be open on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For the month of July, we will have Exhibit Host shifts of 10:30 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm, with one Exhibit Host per shift.
We will evaluate our attendance throughout the month of July in order to best determine the volunteer shifts that make the best use of your generous volunteer time. It is possible that these shifts will change for the August signups.
Tour and Exhibit Host signups though July 31 will be made available on Saturday, June 20 at 10am. Because this is such a limited schedule, we are asking that you sign up for just ONE tour total (NOT one of each that you know). We will of course be monitoring the schedule. If the schedule fills up through July and there is a need from docents wanting to give tours, we will add more spots to the existing CAC walking tour departures and let you know. We ask that you please be patient as this is a new process and experience for all of us. We are doing our best to get it right the first time but know that we might need to make changes.
Our neighborhood tours are beginning June 20 and Michele has been in contact with those involved (through August). All bus tours are canceled through July 31. We hope to resume Big Bus on August 1st but this is subject to change. We are cancelling all building-specific tours at this time and are unsure when those will resume.