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Chicago Architecture Foundation

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Editor Pick

Walking Tour of Historic Skyscrapers

  • June 12, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by artslover from Calgary, Alberta
Walking Tour of Historic Skyscrapers

The tour we took was called Historic Downtown (south): Rise of the Skyscraper.

Chicago is not only the birthplace of the skyscraper, it is also where most of the innovations in early skyscraper design and technology originated . We were interested in learning about some of the building seen in downtown Chicago and also learning a bit of Chicago history so took a walking tour with the Chicago Architectural Foundation.

The CAF tours start in the Santa Fe building just across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago. The tour we took started at 3:00 p.m. and cost $15 as non-members of the CAF. There are also happy hour tours for $16, and discounted tour costs for students and seniors. Reservation online is possible (www.architecture.org/tours.aspx) but I was told that weekday tours are not usually full and arriving 15 minutes ahead is sufficient to get into a tour.

The group we were in was about 10 people. Ours was mostly Canadians but a few locals as well. We were given headsets to amplify the docent guiding the tour.

The docent first gave us a little Chicago history, the most significant event being the Great Chicago Fire and then described the building we were in, the Santa Fe, as an example of early Chicago architecture.

The walking part of the tour started with looking at the Art Institute of Chicago as a contrast to the developments of the Chicago buildings we would be looking at. We then moved on a few blocks away to Holabird and Roche’s Marquette Building (1895), an outstanding example of the Chicago School of design. Nearby was the Field Building (1934) by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, the most recent of the buildings we looked at and distinctively Art Deco both in design and interior decor and the last building completed during the Great Depression.

We also looked Burnham and Root’s Rookery (1888) with its Moorish revival exterior and restored Frank Lloyd Wright interior; Holabird and Root’s Chicago Board of Trade Building (1930), one of the city’s most glamorous Art Deco skyscrapers; the Old Colony Building by Holabird & Roche (1894) with its rounded corners; the Leiter II Building (1891) an early skeletal frame commercial building by pioneer skyscraper architect, William Le Baron Jenney, and Adler and Sullivan’s Auditorium Building (1889) a masterpiece of engineering, design and acoustics.

I think my favourite was the Monadnock Block with the north half (1889-91) designed by Burnham & Root and south half (1891-93) designed by Holabird & Roche. The north part–famed for its lack of traditional ornamentation–is a masonry, wall-bearing structure, the last skyscraper to employ this method of construction, with six-foot thick walls at the base, and yet it looks modern enough when contrasted with the Mies van der Rohe building across the street.

The docent, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, was not only informative but communicated his enthusiasm for the subject. I wanted to immediately go on the next tour of skyscrapers which started with the Prudential Building built in 1955 after the Great Depression and World War II which caused a hiatus in skyscraper building. Too bad we did not have enough time for another tour.

From journal Four days of Chicago delights

Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours

  • April 12, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by supercat from Chicago, Illinois
Take a boat cruise along the Chicago River, embarking from the Michigan Avenue bridge, with a top-notch tour guide (often an architect) who points out various buildings and provides commentary. You can choose to sit outside, up top the boat, or inside (nice for inclement weather). A variety of drinks/snacks are available. The tour concentrates on architecture and offers a wonderful view of Chicago.

From journal Sweet Home, Chicago

Editor Pick

Chicago Architecture Foundation

  • July 10, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by MarkR37 from Madison, Wisconsin
Chicago Architecture Foundation

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to educating the public on the fascinating history of Chicago Architecture. They offer over 40 different tours throughout the year by highly trained, enthusiastic guides.

We have taken three different tours over the years and the Historic Skyscraper tour is my favorite. Chicago is somewhat unique in that the entire city burnt to the ground at the exact time when technology about steel frame buildings and modern elevators was developed. The result was that young architects came to the city to rebuild and competed among themselves for commissions. Buildings started to go higher because of these factors and before long there was a new kind of architecture born called the skyscraper.

The tour takes you around the loop area and points out the many wonderful buildings built from the 1880s through the 1920s. My favorite building of the tour was the interior of the Rookery building and the exterior of the Santa Fe Building. This is a great way to get aquatinted with the city and is my favorite activity when visiting Chicago. Tours run about $10 for the walking versions. Here is a link for more information. www.architecture.org

From journal Chicago "Rules"

Editor Pick

Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours

  • May 6, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by MarkR37 from Madison, Wisconsin
Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours

The great Chicago fire of 1871 laid waste to the entire city and provided a blank pallet for modern building designers to redesign the city. Most of the rubble from the fire was pushed out into Lake Michigan to create what is today called Grant Park. The tour covers the early skyscrapers built between the 1870s and the 1930s. Buildings featured include the Art Deco Chicago Board of Trade Building; the Auditorium Building, a Louis Sullivan masterpiece; and the Rookery.

I have been on this walking tour twice and plan to take the river boat to get acquainted with this majestic city. The guides are enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. They can provide all sorts of good tips as to where to eat and what other things to do so plan on taking the tour early in your trip

From journal Big Chicago

Editor Pick

Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours

  • January 28, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by dawn from Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours

This professional and educational organization provides a wide variety of tours to cover every interest level possible in Chicago and the surrounding areas. There are other groups that give architecture tours, but my feeling is that one should always go to those who are teaching and protecting the very subject for the most information as well as the most passionate of speakers.( love shines forth, you know?)

For the new Chicago Explorer, I'd like to recommend the following:

1.) The loop walking tours- which covers two eras

(A) Historic skyscrapers- 1870-1935

(B) Modern skyscrapers-postWW11

Tours are Sunday through Friday at 10a.m., and Saturdays are 10a.m. or 2:30p.m. Tours are $ 10.00 each or $ 15.00 for both

2.) Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio ( 951 Chicago Ave. Oak Park) The home and studio tour is $ 8.00. It would be a shame to miss the historic district tour in Oak Park that is also $ 8.00. You can get a combo-ticket for both at a reduced rate of $ 14.00 for both. From March until October, the tours are on Sundays. Are you staying downtown, and don't know how to get to Oak Park? Don't worry, you can catch a bus for this tour from the Michi- gan Ave. address for CAF above.

3.) Architecture Highlights by bus- this is a 3 hour tour that covers several historic neighborhoods such as Hyde Park,The University, and the Loop. Leaves from the CAF building on Michigan ave. at a cost of $ 25.00

From journal Fun Tours in Chicago: A helping hand

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