Chicago Walking Tour: Modern Architecture

Looking for iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture? What better place than Chicago with its triumvirate of modern architects (Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and SOM) and a city ready and willing to accept them. Find out what set these buildings apart from their predecessors and how they helped set the stage for the future. If you’re interested in iconic buildings, public art, urban planning or government this is your tour. Find out the stories behind inland steel, Marina city, the IBM building and other "Mad Men" worthy skyscrapers. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.

1. 1

   Chicago Architecture Center

   10 min

   Your tour begins at the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), formerly the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Visit the CAC to view a 4,000-building scale model of Chicago or shop in the award-winning store.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   Pass by

   View the Prudential Building.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   View the Aon Center.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Pass by

   View the Inland Steel Building.

5. 5

   Daley Center

   15 min

   Marvel at Richard J. Daley Center, one of the first buildings to be covered in an unpainted steel called Cor-Ten. The docent will also discuss the famous "Chicago Picasso" artwork in the plaza.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   Discuss the AMA Plaza, formerly home to the office of Mies van der Rohe.

7. 7

   Marina City

   15 min

   Highlights include Marina City, a mixed-use residential-commercial building designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg, envisioned as an urban experiment designed to draw middle-class Chicagoans back to the city after more than a decade of suburban migration.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Pass by

   View the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

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