Chicago Fireboat Tour: Historic Architecture Cruise
4.9
225 Ratings
Chicago

Explore Chicago’s fire history and architecture on a historic fireboat cruise. Perfect for families and fire enthusiasts. Book your adventure today.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Chicago River - Discover the fascinating history and details of the Chicago River.
What's Included
  • Bathrooms available onboard
  • Cruise on a piece of Chicago history
  • Expert narration of Chicago’s history & architecture
What's Not Included
  • Snacks
  • Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information

Travel on a piece of history, learning Chicago fire history as well as Architecture! We travel on Lake Michigan and through the Chicago River seeing the sights. Perfect for Fire enthusiasts, families and everyone in between! Our flagship vessel is a retired Chicago fire boat, the Fred A Busse, Engine 41, which served Chicago from 1937 to 1981….

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Location
111 N DuSable Lake Shore Dr
North DuSable Lake Shore Drive
CHICAGO FIREBOAT TOURS IS LOCATED ON THE CONCRETE PIER BETWEEN MONROE & DUSABLE HARBORS, JUST EAST OF MILLENNIUM & MAGGIE DALEY PARKS, AND ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF NAVY PIER. WE ARE ON THE SAME DOCK AS THE MV ABEGWEIT, A 372FT BLUE & WHITE VESSEL HOUSING THE COLUMBIA YACHT CLUB.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(225 Ratings)
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Susan_m
Oct 4, 2025
Great Tour - Great tour!!! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. We learned a lot of Chicago history and had a lot of fun!!
Review provided by Viator
Allison_m
Sep 29, 2025
fantastic fireboat - This was a fantastic tour! The fireboat is more unique than a regular tour boat. Part of the fun is that it we start on the Lake Michigan side and get to experience going through the locks to get on to the Chicago River. Our tour guide Cliff was extremely knowledgeable about the various styles of building architecture and the city's history, as well as being witty, friendly, and having a voice smooth as silk. The entire crew was friendly, helpful, and you could tell they really enjoyed what they do. Will definitely do this again next time we visit Chicago.
Review provided by Viator
W9271mgstephanief
Sep 29, 2025
Highly recommend! - We had a wonderful time on this adventure! It was a small and more intimate experience vs the other river boat cruises that looked like a herd of people were on them. Cliff was wonderful and full of interesting facts about the city and the history behind the buildings. I highly recommend this tour of Chicago!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_f
Sep 29, 2025
The best tour! - The whole crew was welcoming and knowledgeable. The timing was just right and the accommodations were perfect.
Review provided by Viator
V7211bumichaelm
Sep 29, 2025
Great tour in an historic fireboat with a friendly crew. - The crew was friendly and welcoming. The tour had the great combination of Chicago architecture and history. Cliff was an outstanding tour guide. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go26805560929
Sep 28, 2025
Architectural boat tour - What a fantastic way to enjoy our fine city! Cliff and the crew were great. Cliff's stories about Chicago were so interesting. Going thru the locks was a bonus. Best two hours you'll spend in the city. Highly recommended!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nellysofis
Sep 28, 2025
Perfect tour to see the city of Chicago! - We absolutely loved the tour. The guide knew a lot of chicago history and the entire staff was super nice. Definitely recommend if you want to see the entire city from the water.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robin_a
Sep 28, 2025
Walking on water..... - Cliff and the entire crew were professional, friendly and fun to spend time with. The views were amazing.
Review provided by Viator
Martinas_s
Sep 28, 2025
Fantastic day - it was a pleasant trip and the boat cap was very informative and knowledgeable. Enjoyed the history.
Review provided by Viator
Jason_e
Sep 21, 2025
Fun, informational, and overall amazing experience! - The experience was fantastic! The boat was so cool, historic, and well appointed. The guides were super friendly, funny, and knowledgable of all things Chicago and its history and architecture. There was a full bar on the boat, which was amazing. The amount of people on the boat was just right, not too crowded. It was amazing how quickly two hours went by on this fun tour! Highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Check Availability
From $45
From $45
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).