Take A Walk
Graceland Cemetery - A Haunting Side of Chicago
Don't miss Chicago's amazing architects final resting place where the monuments to their life have been designed by noted sculptors and architects including Daniel Chester French, Lorado Taft, and Louis Sullivan. See Burnham Island, which is the family lot of the Daniel Burnham family. There are also, many famous figures from Chicago’s social, political, and architectural history that are buried in this park-like cemetery. As well as, notables involved in planning of the Columbian Exposition ( that are also featured in the book Devil in the White City) rest here.
The Skyscraper in the making - Historic South Downtown
Chicago is not only the birthplace of the skyscraper, it is also where most of the innovations in early skyscraper design and technology originated! Take this tour and step back in time for an informational look at some of our world famous early skyscrapers including: Burnham and Root’s Rookery (built in 1888) with a Moorish revival exterior and it's restored Frank Lloyd Wright interior; Adler and Sullivan’s Auditorium Building (built in 1889) a masterpiece of engineering, design and acoustics; Holabird and Roche’s Marquette Building (built in 1895) an outstanding example of the Chicago School of design; and Holabird and Root’s Chicago Board of Trade Building (built in 1930), one of the city’s most glamorous Art Deco skyscrapers.
Present Day Skyscrapers
Following World War II, Chicago reestablished itself as a world capital of Modern architecture. Examine many of the buildings that helped earn Chicago such acclaim, from the elegant minimalism of Mies van der Rohe's Federal Center to the brawny expressiveness of the Richard J. Daley Center. Trace the evolution of Modernism in the hands of a second wave of notable architects such as Helmut Jahn and the rise of such Postmodern structures as Philip Johnson's 190 S. LaSalle. Modernism is perpetually flowering in Chicago, check out contemporary examples like the recently completed tower at One South Dearborn, Trump Tower, and the Art Institute's Modern Wing.
Chicago Architectural Gems - Historic North Downtown
See some of the great architectural landmarks of State Street and Michigan Avenue from the late 19th/early 20th centuries. These emerged at a time when Chicago was determined to be a great cultural—as well as commercial—city as evidenced and encouraged by the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. You’ll see buildings by Burnham, Sullivan, Holabird and Roche and other noted architects—including the Reliance Building, Carson Pirie Scott & Co. ( Famous for it's Sullivan arches), the Chicago Cultural Center, the Palmer House and the famous Michigan Avenue street wall. You’ll visit beautiful interiors that even many Chicagoans don’t know exist! You will hear the stories behind these architectural gems and the men and women who have added so much to the commercial and cultural life of this city. As icing on the cake, touch on Millennium Park, Chicago’s exciting new 21st century park, outdoor gallery, garden and music venue... Enjoy!
The South Loop - Printers Row, The Museum Campus and The Glessner House
After years of neglect, see the new life that has flourished in the loft and commercial structures that once were a part of Chicago’s thriving print industry. Now a thriving residential community, these buildings by some of Chicago’s prominent architects have gained historic landmark status. While in the area don't miss the amazing exhibitions at Adler Planetarium, The Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum or the Glessner House Museum. The Glessner House, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson (built in 1887), is the home that inspired a young Frank Lloyd Wright.
To schedule a tour of the Glessner House call: 312-326-1480
Hyde Park & The Robie House
Stroll through the impressive Gothic campus of the University of Chicago and along the streets of Hyde Park with a truly diverse architectural styles. Survey houses and apartment buildings from the 1860s to the 1950s, including the exterior of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, currently under restoration. (An interior tour of the Robie House is available through the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust.
Call 708.848.1978 for details.