Four Female Architects Who Shaped Chicago
Female architects have shaped Chicago for generations, yet their work is frequently overlooked and under-appreciated. In Chicago, the architects mentioned in history books tend to be “great men” like William Le Baron Jenney, Daniel Burnham, and Frank Lloyd Wright. That’s finally changing, with female architects like local legend Jeanne Gang capturing attention worldwide. Still, a […]
Sip Hot Chocolate in These 4 Historic Spots
Cozying up with a mug of hot chocolate is an absolute must in the midst of a long Chicago winter. So why not check out some fascinating historic architecture while tracking down that mug of bliss? Here are four places to enjoy excellent hot chocolate in fascinating historic spots. Cheers! We research stories from Chicago history, architecture […]
Best Chicago Books for Smart Holiday Gifts
The best Chicago books always make great holiday gifts. Happily, the Detours staff are voracious readers of Chicago books on history, architecture and culture, so we have recommendations for the best new Chicago books on those very topics. These selections, which delve into the city’s past and present, are just the thing for those who […]
Visit the Chicago Board of Trade
A visit to the Chicago Board of Trade is a must, especially in conjunction with our Downtown Bucket List tour for private groups. And little wonder that people want to visit. Standing like a giant at the head of the LaSalle Street canyon, the landmark tower is among the most photogenic in Chicago. The building is […]
Take a Free Self-Guided William LeBaron Jenney Walking Tour
William LeBaron Jenney designed the world’s first steel-frame skyscraper in 1885, creating a new style of construction which would come to define the city. You can still see some of his groundbreaking architectural masterpieces in downtown Chicago using this free self-guided William LeBaron Jenney walking tour. As the inventor of the skyscraper, Jenney trained talented young […]
Before Lincoln Yards: Chicago Mega-development History
Lincoln Yards, the controversial mega-development on the North Branch of the Chicago River, is just one of many enormous projects across the city. The sites, built by private developers with infusions of public money, aim to build entire neighborhoods from scratch. Obviously, these are “no little plans” as Daniel Burnham might say, and they have […]
The Amazing Architecture of the Auditorium Theater
Recently I wrote an article for the Detours blog listing the most overlooked beautiful buildings in Chicago. A few days later we received an email from an employee of the Auditorium Theater. She asked why their historic venue had not been included. I replied, in all honesty, that I didn’t think the Auditorium Theater was […]
10 Overlooked Beautiful Buildings in Chicago
Chicago is known for having beautiful buildings and being a hub of architectural innovation. Iconic favorites like Aqua, the Robie House and the Carbide and Carbon Building show up on multiple lists of beautiful buildings in Chicago. We wanted to spotlight some beauties that are often overlooked. Let us know if we missed one of […]
New Buildings in Chicago – Vista, One Bennett Park and More in 2019
2019 may turn out to be the peak of the current building boom in Chicago. As a professional tour guide here with Chicago Detours, it can be dizzying at times to keep up with all these changes! To take account of the frenzy, I’m highlighting some of the new buildings in Chicago. Some of the big […]
Architecture and History of the Marquette Building
The Marquette Building, a landmark Chicago skyscraper from 1895, is a stunner. Right in the heart of the Loop, it’s one of the best extant examples of the Chicago School of architecture. Like many of Chicago’s architectural marvels, it fell into a state of neglect in the 20th century. Today, meticulous work has restored the […]