Chicago: Art Deco Skyscrapers Walking Tour

Chicago: Art Deco Skyscrapers Walking Tour

23 Reviews

Neighborhood tours Sightseeing walking tours Tours Wheelchair accessible Guided tours Landmarks & monuments Activities Art Culture & history For adults Architecture Sightseeing Private tours

Art Deco's lavish materials and geometric ornament epitomized the prosperity and optimism of the Roaring 20s. Learn the history and characteristics of this modern decorative style while touring some of the city's most beautiful skyscrapers.

Our Top Experiences and Tours in Chicago:

If youʻre booking your trip to Chicago last minute, we have you covered. Below are some of the top tours and experiences!

View All Experiences

Highlights

Learn the origins of Art Deco and discover its popular motifs
See how Art Deco enhances the soaring exteriors and opulent interiors of some of the city's most extraordinary skyscrapers
Delight in the beauty of the interiors of 5 opulent Art Deco skyscrapers
Learn from your local expert guide, trained by the Chicago Architecture Center – the city’s leading authority on architecture

Description

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. Art Deco abounds in Chicago. The style made its way to the city in the 1920s, after it was showcased at an international art exposition in Paris. It was widely seen at the 1933-1934 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago as well. Influenced by Cubism and the art and architecture of the ancient Middle East, Art Deco can be found in popular motifs like zigzags, octagons, sunbursts and flowers. Art Deco reflects the era’s fun-loving optimism with lavish materials and geometric ornaments. Discover the origins of Art Deco while admiring buildings like the Carbide and Carbon Building (now the St. Jane Hotel), the Chicago Motor Club Building (now the Hampton Inn), the colorful, but often overlooked, Trustees System Service Building (now the Century Tower) and the Engineering Building—all of which are designated Chicago landmarks. This tour ends at the Merchandise Mart. Tickets purchased for experiences run by the Chicago Architecture Center help build the greater Chicago community. When you hit the pavement on a walking tour, set sail on an award-winning river cruise (Chicago's First Lady), or visit the Center, you’re helping fund Chicago Architecture Center education initiatives like Girls Build!, Teen Fellows and the Newhouse Architecture + Design Competition. Or you may be helping to keep programs like Open House Chicago free for participants for years to come. As a certified nonprofit, all Chicago Architecture Center ticket purchases directly support local education efforts and community engagement projects.

Includes

New: admission to the Chicago Architecture Center exhibits 90-minute walking tour Entry into 5 iconic Art Deco buildings Certified docent from the Chicago Architecture Center

Important Information

All tours are given by Chicago Architecture Center certified volunteer docents who receive hundreds of hours of training about Chicago’s architecture and its history. They are storytellers and Chicago experts
This tour is unable to provide secure storage for luggage or strollers
Unfortunately, there are no refunds due to the weather. Tours depart rain or shine
Pets are not allowed, but service animals are welcome