Chicago Walking Tour: Art Deco Skyscrapers Riverfront
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Tour the lobbies of five opulent Art Deco skyscrapers built near the banks of the Chicago River during the business boom of the Roaring '20s. Learn how Art Deco reflected the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornament. Discover the origins of Art Deco while admiring buildings like the Carbide and Carbon Building (now Pendry Chicago), the Chicago Motor Club Building (now the Hampton Inn) and the colorful, but often overlooked, Trustees System Service Building (now the Century Tower)—all of which are designated Chicago landmarks. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change without notice due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
Pets are not allowed.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Chicago River
Discuss buildings built in the Art Deco style along the riverfront
View the exterior of the building
What‘s Included
Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center
Narration by a professional and certified guide
Coat check
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Storage for luggage or strollers
Options
Art Deco Riverfront
Reviews
91 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
For the Art Deco Lover
momoduff,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved this tour. I knew a little bit about Art Deco but learned a lot. It’s a nice, compact tour and our guide managed to get us through the crowds downtown on a gorgeous day. I really appreciate the sound system they use. The tour does not end back at CAC so we missed their fabulous gift shop!
Educational and enjoyable tour of art deco buildings
IvanC4760,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy was passionate and knowledgeable Very pleasant experience Learned a lot and I now have more appreciation for the art deco buildings in Chicago. Highly recommend
Incredible tour! History/art enthusiasts will love this
933eshanp,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an incredible tour! Our docent Betsy was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely lovely. We covered 333 N Michigan Ave (now a Chicago Blackhawks storefront), 68 E Wacker Place (the former home of the Chicago Motor Club), the Carbide & Carbon Building, Century Tower, the Merchandise Mart, and several smaller Art Deco gems along the way. I left with a deep appreciation not only for Chicago's architecture and the Art Deco movement, but even more so for the Chicago Architecture Center and people like Betsy, who pour such passion and energy into sharing these historically rich, culturally resonant stories. Kudos to this spirit!
Art Deco Skyscrapers Walking Tour - Do It!
I9929PWleet,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was great. Highly recommend any tour conducted by the Chicago Architecture Center (I’ve done four so far). With this particular tour, you get to enter the gorgeous lobbies of several buildings and see the art deco elements. Spectacular. If I were to offer any advice on this one (for the guide), it would be to get some kind of device to amplify your voice—it was difficult to hear occasionally over the street noise.
Great Art Deco Riverwalk
scottya603,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The chirp on the river front deco was amazing! Maureen was really good and showed us a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff that we would not normally well just walking in the city. It is amazing just doing these walking tours and seeing so much of the city that you walk by every day.
very fun but my feet hurt
juliafZ702LO,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00went on a cold day, so being in the lobbies was nice to warm up. small crowd, and tour was very interesting, super nice tour guide. only downside is that my feet hurt from all the walking
Excellent
V3102NJdanw,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mary Jane had lots of info about Art Deco. The walk was short and the lobbies were exceptional exhibits. Highly recommended!
Great tour well worth taking the time to do it
Anne D,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was excellent , very knowledgeable , enthusiastic and friendly. The architecture was fantastic well worth taking the time out to see the exteriors and interiors of the art deco buildings.
Amazing lobbies and rooftops
Gigem83,Dec 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very interesting tour. Thanks to Bob, I appreciate the beauty of Chicago’s architecture and architectural history even more. The interior’s you visit are hidden gems that you could easily pass by. Highly recommend this tour and will definitely do another tour on my next trip to Chicago. I guarantee you will learn something on this tour. Pro tip: look up. The top of the buildings are as amazing as the ground level.
Fantastic Art Deco Skyscraper walking tour
20DJW14,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took an hour and a half thoroughly engaging and informative walking tour with Bob who was a font of knowledge about Art Deco, other architectural styles and Chicago history, too. It was a brisk day and only two of us were on the tour but being able to pop into buildings and see their interiors as well as their exteriors was a nice perk. The price was reasonable for the length of the tour - CAC volunteers provide such great tours.
From US$35.00
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Operated by Chicago Architecture Center