Chicago Art Deco Skyscrapers: Walking Tour

Immerse yourself in the elegance and grandeur of Chicago’s Art Deco skyscrapers. Explore the origins and iconic motifs of this architectural style while marveling at historic landmarks like the Chicago Board of Trade and One LaSalle Street.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • The Rookery Building - Explore the Art Deco-inspired lobby of the Rookery, crafted by William Drummond.
  • 135 South LaSalle Street - Admire the architecture of the 135 S LaSalle St building.
  • 1 N La Salle St - Engage in a discussion about the 1 N LaSalle St building.
  • Chicago Board of Trade Building - The tour will conclude at…
What's Included
  • Admission to the Galleries of the Chicago Architecture Center
  • Narration by a professional and certified Guide
  • Walking tour of Downtown Chicago Art Deco architecture
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Storage for luggage or strollers
  • Coat check
Additional Information

Explore the heart of Chicago’s financial district where Art Deco architectural wonders built during the vibrant ‘20s stand tall. Understand how Art Deco encapsulated the period’s spirited positivity with sumptuous materials and geometric embellishments.
Dive into the roots of Art Deco along with its quintessential features as you examine structures like…

Location
30 N LaSalle St
North LaSalle Street
Meet in front of 30 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL, USA.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(182 Ratings)
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Erin_k
May 25, 2026
Marsha was a great guide! - Marsha was very knowledgeable and her passion for art, architecture, and Chicago were inspiring! I would highly recommend this tour if you are interested in true Art Deco design and the 1920-1930s.
Review provided by Viator
770vicw
May 15, 2026
Excellent Tour!! - Excellent tour! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and the pace was excellent. Highly recommended for someone who is interested either in this period of architecture or just curious about buildings in Chicago.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oliviadb7418zr
May 12, 2026
Edutaining! - The tour was fantastic! Well worth the money, imo. We were a small group of under 10 so it was easy to hear our wonderful guide, Jeff. The pace was super reasonable for taking photos, asking questions, etc. but wasn't too slow. Sweet sweet Jeff filled the time with useful info about each building and was attentive to us and we saw some real gems in the small area we covered. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone interested in architecture, design, history, or even any tangentially related subject!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kbv8414sr
Apr 28, 2026
Art Deco walking tour - Marsha was wonderful. Explained everything clearly and with expertise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Exploration658683
Dec 30, 2025
Art Decco at its best even in the cold! - Cynthia was wonderful. It was a very cold day and she kept us engaged and warm with her knowledge and pleasant demeanor. The lobbies don't disappoint! I highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debbieby1926lg
Dec 16, 2025
Art Deco 100 Years After Its Debut - Terrific tour with Cynthia, who was extremely knowledgable and interesting. She kept us moving on a cold day, and did a good job of alternating indoor and outdoor spaces. Learned a lot!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maryjot96
Dec 8, 2025
Art deco tour was phenomenal. Especially on a cold winter day we were able to duck inside lobbies and warm up! - Pris was our tour guide and she was so informative. We all learned so much on our tour and had a lovely time together. I would book another tour with her!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q8909zwcarolb
Nov 30, 2025
A perfect tour of Art Deco Chicago! - This is a perfect tour to introduce you to Art Deco architecture in Chicago. Filled with historical and cultural references of indigenous people, architects and business leaders. The layout of the tour is efficient; the tour guide is concise, well-read and engaging. This is a walking tour you won’t forget!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Travel56424033494
Nov 5, 2025
Great presentation by Mary Jane. - Great introduction to Art Deco skyscrapers And we're from Chicago! We worked in the Loop for years and really never noticed the buildings, much less understood the significance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bruce
May 25, 2026
Soft talker - The tour was a nice short duration. The guide was knowledgeable but did not speak with a projected voice so was not intelligible through a lot of the tour. With cars going by, sirens and the El tracks, she needed to adjust her level of speech and ask if people could hear.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $35
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).