Chicago Architecture Center: Explore 4,250-Building Model

Explore Chicago’s architectural marvels at the CAC. Discover a 4,250-building model, shop unique finds, and join family events. Support education and community projects.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Chicago Architecture Center - Your voucher grants you access to two floors of imaginative exhibits at Chicago’s newest cultural destination - Chicago Architecture Center! Print the voucher or present it to box office staff on mobile device within 60 days of purchase.
What's Included
  • Admission ticket
What's Not Included
  • Storage for luggage, strollers, or coats
  • Guided Tour
  • Food or drink
Additional Information

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) was founded in 1966 as the Chicago Architecture Foundation to save the historic Glessner House. Since then, the CAC has grown to become one of the largest cultural organizations in Chicago. Visit the CAC to view our 4,250-building scale model of Chicago, shop in our award-winning store or participate in a fun family…

Location
Chicago Architecture Center
111 E Wacker Dr
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(74 Ratings)
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1 star
217sheldond
Feb 14, 2026
Historical treasures - Charles gave a very good tour. As a former city planner, he was knowledgeable and had a few anecdotes along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tour13872975761
Feb 13, 2026
A Must-do CAC Chicago's Golden Age Tour - Had an excellent Treasures of Chicago's Golden Age tour with Charles through the Chicago Architectural Center. Highly recommend this tour for a great overview of some of Chicago's great buildings. Our guide added quite a few additional spots along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gregba5813bd
Jan 14, 2026
Be sure to take the "Modernism: Reviving the Loop" tour at the Chicago Architecture Center - This tour was entertaining and informative. We learned a lot about major architectural themes and trends but also discovered many intriguing details about some of Chicago's most fascinating buildings. Tour guide Michelle Pittman was great. She spoke clearly, kept up a good pace, and was very interactive--taking our questions and sharing her extensive knowledge all along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Irina
Jan 3, 2026
Very interesting and useful information - We had a great experience on the Pedway tour with Alice. She was very knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting facts, all with a great sense of humor that made the tour fun and engaging. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to learn about Chicago’s history while also getting useful, practical information on how to navigate the city—especially when it’s cold, hot, rainy, or snowy, since the Pedway connects so much of downtown. One thing to be aware of: there are quite a few stairs in some areas, and not all locations have elevators or escalators.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Morwhitden
Dec 30, 2025
Excellent Tour of the Pedway - Last week my partner and I took a tour of the Pedway with Alice and we had such a great time! We've lived in Chicago for over a year, and use the Pedway regularly, but learned so much throughout the tour. Alice was so great with her pacing, keeping us moving, always asking if there are questions, and seemed genuinely tickled to be leading us. The group was intimate, just 7 people and Alice, and very kind and respectful. Everyone that wanted to ask questions had time to ask them. This was our second walking tour with the Chicago Architecture Center and we've loved them so much that we've decided to become members in the new year. We are so lucky that this is a part of our city and can't wait to take friends and family when they are in town. One note for those who are talking the Pedway tour: wear light layers! We were dressed for a cold Chicago day and had to shlep our coats and sweaters around... we should have thought that through!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christinecu4368qx
Nov 8, 2025
Chicago River Architecture Tour - This was an outstanding tour! Chris was our guide and he did an incredible job. This was such a great way to see Chicago. I highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q504ulkrishnar
Nov 8, 2025
Excellent and highly recommended - This was an awesome architecture trip. We learnt a lot and it was a fun experience. A very good boat tour. We also did the museum visit which was informative.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Borenfamx5
Jan 1, 2026
Interesting - We did a pedestrian tour with CAC and was able to use that for admission into the Chicago architecture center. It’s was nice. Had a video of Chicago and a nice mini replica of city and Wrigley field. The exhibit upstairs was really interesting.. “ The disappointed tourist” by Ellen Harvey
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Fellowtraveler173167
Sep 26, 2025
Very nice excellent and professional and very useful and highly recommended for anyone interested in learning about chic - Very nice and useful professional and exceptional service and unique service and entertaining and informative and satisfying
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Idyllwildgirl
Oct 1, 2025
Do a walking tour; very little at this museum for the average tourist - This physical museum is not set up well. We did a 90 minute boat tour focusing on architecture so we learned a bit and were interested in learning more. We walked into this museum thinking we’d learn more. Instead it seemed geared toward architecture awards along with a model of the city and some facts about the Wrigley Field. The postcards on the wall in a huge room were cute but not helpful to learn about Chicago. They could’ve done so much more with this museum space and I considered it a FAIL as a tourist trying to learn about Chicago. Meanwhile I see by other reviews that many people took “walking tours” which I wish the admission people (or even a sign in the museum) would’ve educated us about. That would’ve been far more interesting than this museum space. They do have a nice gift shop.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $15
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).