Architectural and Historic Bar Walking Tours
Architectural walking tours are a great way to explore Chicago. Our fun, educational tours will give you new perspectives of Chicago architecture and history. Led by expert tour guides, our walking and bus tours include an interactive dynamic, presentation of historic photos and videos, and special gifts.
Tour reservations are required.
Current Tours | Summer 2013
Good Times Historic Bar Tour
Thu 5:30pm, Fri 5:30pm & Sat 5:00pmOn this mostly indoor pub crawl with an educational twist, you’ll explore Chicago’s entertainment history and learn about prohibition, jazz, theater, vices, and social clubs. Guests interact with historic photos and videos on shared iPads and visit historic buildings for three drink stops. We don’t walk far and we get to see magnificent lobbies and interesting bars, meaning that we stay mostly indoors. It’s a great wintertime activity.
Appetizers and other extras included - drinks on you.
Book early as this walking tour of historic Chicago bars often sells out.
Guests pay cash at start of tour to cover all server gratuities and chosen beverage option: $18 for wine, $16 for beer, $5 for soda, $3 for water.
Begin inside Argo Tea, 435 N. Michigan Ave.
End near the intersections of Rush & Ohio streets.
Walk .75 mile - 2 hours & 30 minutes.
Inside the Loop Interior Architectural Tour
Mon 11am, Wed 10am, Thu 10am, Fri 3pm, Sat 10am & 1:30pm, Sun 1:30pmPopular with Chicago locals and visitors wanting an in-depth look at architecture, this walking tour explores architectural interiors and the underground Pedway system. You’ll visit a department store, a skyscraper church, the infamous Block 37, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Guests engage with photos and video clips on shared iPads while a live tour guide shares expert commentary. Part architectural tour, part history tour, and part Pedway tour, you’ll stay warm making this a great winter activity in Chicago.
Meet inside southeast entrance of Chase Tower,
10 S. Dearborn. End at Cultural Center,
78 E. Washington. - Walk .5 mi - 2 hours
Jazz, Blues & Beyond Tour by Bus
Saturday, August 31, 10:30am-1:00pmTo design this unique tour, we consulted with music journalists and
experts and dug through archives to tell a story of the cultural
history of Chicago music. You’ll explore Chicago neighborhoods North to South and enjoy a live blues performance on the bus. Video screens on the coach share historic photos and film clips, and a lively tour guide elucidates how
the Windy City became such a hotbed for jazz and blues. We get off the bus for brief walks to engage with architectural landmarks, like Aragon Ballroom, Green Mill Jazz Club, and Chess Records. You’ll get exclusive entrance to a former historic jazz club, and leave knowing how to play blues harmonica.
Starts and ends in front of
Jazz Record Mart, 27 E. Illinois St.
2.5 hours - some walking
