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
(80 Ratings)
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1 star
Kingrichardthelh
Aug 3, 2026
Great! - Awesome. Chris was great! We were introduced to multiple phases of Chicago architecture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cathy_l
Jul 9, 2026
Very detailed and... - Very detailed and provided great info on the impact of buildings on birds and how architects have improved the situation with glass and building modifications. Also the permanent exhibit was excellent.
Review provided by Viator
U19pgrichardt
Jun 15, 2026
Legacy of Northalsted - Had a great time on the Legacy of Northalsted tour with Rene! He does a fantastic job weaving together architecture, neighborhood history, and the rich history of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community in a way that’s engaging and easy to follow. I learned so much about how Northalsted became one of the Chicago’s proudest LGBTQ+ neighborhoods saw places I’ve walked by for years in a whole new light. Highly recommend this tour for both locals and visitors! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review provided by Tripadvisor
301chaseh
May 1, 2026
Awesome - Chris is the best whole tour was lit heck yeah
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Watsonnat
Apr 12, 2026
Excellent to our well worth the money - We had an excellent tour guide Emily. Learned lots on the tour of the architecture along the river. She was most knowledgeable. It was a beautiful sunny day and the boat was perfect.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
Margiemom1
Jul 3, 2026
Skip! - Maybe a tour is better but I don’t see how. There was literally almost nothing to see there. I can’t believe they charge for this center!
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).