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The greatest benefit of this architectural river tour is not the view. Chicago’s past is fascinating and its engineering marvels are legion. Each building is unique and each docent is unique, and that means that every tour, whether it’s a walking tour or on a boat, is unique.
Fantastic
As the tour nears the turning point on the south branch of the river, you’ll see another river walk, although this one is more reminiscent of what Chicago looked like before de Sable and Fort Dearborn. Captain Julie Nerburn piloted us smoothly through the skyscraper canyon on the river’s now clean water (thanks to the EPA, one of the many factoids Joan detailed). They reversed the river to stop that filth from being dumped into Lake Michigan, where it would be piped right back into the city’s plumbing. Being a docent for the Chicago Architecture Center isn’t easy. It requires months of education and an intense passion for architecture, Chicago, and history. We are happy to offer free foreign language audio guides in Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean.
North Wabash / AMA Plaza (IBM Plaza)
Welcome to the Official Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady – recognized two years in a row as one of the best boat tours in North America (USA Today Readers’ Choice 2022 Awards). There is enough seating for all guests to sit on our open air upper decks safely and with proper distancing measures in place. While seat numbers are printed on the tickets, you can ignore these as they are not valid.
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Serene and bathed in softer light, the city's architecture takes on a whole new life in the setting sun. Wind-down from the work-week by enjoying a cocktail with friends and family and experience Chicago's skyline on our luxury boats. The Chicago Architecture Center is a non-profit organization whose goals include preserving and sharing Chicago’s architectural past. As such, their tours are led by volunteer docents who undergo a strict and intensive training program. Since 1993, more than 100 CAC-certified volunteer veteran docents have lent their expertise and unique perspectives to guests on the popular CAC River Cruise.
North Riverside
CAC-certified volunteer docents share the fascinating stories of more than 50 buildings and 13 bascule bridges along the river, and the backstories of some of the iconic figures responsible for them. CAC-certified volunteer docents share the fascinating stories of more than 50 buildings and 13 bascule bridges along the river, and backstories of some the iconic figures responsible for them. In pursuit of the CAC's mission to inspire people to discover why design matters, the CAC produces programs for children, students, teens and families. Programs proactively advance diversity, inclusion and representation in STEM fields and ACED careers, while field trips, award-winning publications and online tools expand the CAC's reach into communities across and beyond Chicagoland. Join a highly trained and enthusiastic volunteer CAC guide for a river cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady, and get a detailed rundown of the city's numerous and world-renowned architectural styles! You'll hear the fascinating stories of the legendary figures who designed and built the infamous Windy City.
Please contact our group sales team at Private rentals are available.
Or, treat yourself to a Priority Boarding Ticket, which includes exclusive early boarding period, skip-the-queue during general boarding, and CAC admission. There are enough seats for all guests to have a seat outside, so you won’t have to sit inside unless you want to. Indoor seating is available for those who wish to stay out of the sun or adverse weather conditions. All boats have a full bar available onboard, as well as local, Chicago-area snacks available for purchase.
That’s why USA Today’s 10 Best named the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady the number one boat tour in North America. Complete your architecture experience with a visit to the Chicago Architecture Center, just $5 with a General Boarding Ticket and valid for up to 7 days after your cruise. Chicago's First Lady's fleet is available for groups of 2—250 to charter for your special events.
Guests who are able to transfer may use the company's manual wheelchair based on availability.Visit our accessibility page for more information. Experience why the CAC's boat cruise is rated the best year after year. A continuation of last year’s popular program that looked at Art Deco buildings outside of downtown Chicago, Part 2 showcases surprising sites on the city’s far north and northwest sides. The result is tour guides who not only love the city’s buildings and history, but also are equipped with countless stories about how Chicago was shaped.
Tour takers soak up the relaxed setting, and docents appreciate the unique opportunity to focus more on the stories behind the buildings and less on navigating Chicago’s busy streets. Perhaps most importantly, this tour has inspired Chicagoans and out-of-towners alike to explore the city’s history and vitality—and to understand the role of architecture and design in shaping it. The founders and early members of CAC knew that architecture tours were the organization’s most vital offerings. And CAC docents had stories waiting to be told about the Chicago River. During CAC’s early decades, however, the river was not the sparkling waterway winding through the heart of the city that it is today. Decades of industrial and commercial waste had left it highly polluted.
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady - WGN TV Chicago
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady.
Posted: Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Yes, it’s educational, but it’s much more than a floating classroom with incredible views. You’ll learn stuff without even realizing you’re learning stuff. And you can even have an adult beverage while you’re at it. The CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady departs from the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive on Chicago’s Riverwalk just three blocks north of Millennium Park. Daily tours of the CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady begin Friday, March 31.
In the 1970s, docents approached the river on foot. At first, they brought tour takers to the old warehouses and Chicago’s world-famous bridges, then they brought visitors to see the postmodern structures rising along the riverfront. We are the only tour that partners with the Chicago Architecture Center to offer the official Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady. All of our tours are given by experienced, volunteer docents who receive hundreds of hours of training from the Chicago Architecture Center before guiding the river cruise tour.
Explore Chicago’s iconic architecture aboard TripAdvisor’s #1 rated boat tour of the city. The only Chicago River cruise partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), Chicago’s First Lady Cruises offers visitors the city’s most engaging 90-minute architectural tour experience. Led by the Chicago Architecture Center's expertly trained docent volunteers, this 90-minute cruise reveals fascinating stories behind Chicago's majestic buildings in a way no other tour can. Because CAC had already been giving walking tours along the river, docents adapted this content to suit a river-going excursion. The first cruise CAC offered to members of the NeoCon convention caught a slight snag; the boat required that the bridges be opened, but arrangements had only been made to open each bridge once, turning that inaugural tour into a one-way river cruise. Even so, the tour proved such a success that it would soon offer multiple departures each week—now with bridges always accommodating round-trips for passengers.
Chicago Architecture Center docents lead you on an entertaining and engaging 90-minute experience. Learn about the architects who created our city's magnificent buildings—and the stories behind them. Experience our renowned daytime CAC River Cruise in the glow of the setting sun.
