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They undergo nearly 100 hours to become certified, plus an additional 12 weeks of study about Chicago’s architecture. Docents hail from across the city with a variety of personal and professional backgrounds. Some notable docents have included Geoffrey Baer and Dr. Allison Arwady.
10 boat tours to enjoy this summer in downtown Chicago - NBC Chicago
10 boat tours to enjoy this summer in downtown Chicago.
Posted: Sat, 08 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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In the 1970s, docents approached the river on foot. At first, they brought tour takers to the old warehouses and Chicago’s world-famous bridges, then they brought visitors to see the postmodern structures rising along the riverfront. We are the only tour that partners with the Chicago Architecture Center to offer the official Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady. All of our tours are given by experienced, volunteer docents who receive hundreds of hours of training from the Chicago Architecture Center before guiding the river cruise tour.
Photos from this tour
The greatest benefit of this architectural river tour is not the view. Chicago’s past is fascinating and its engineering marvels are legion. Each building is unique and each docent is unique, and that means that every tour, whether it’s a walking tour or on a boat, is unique.
Directions to Chicago’s First Lady boat dock
Dedicated volunteers learn the details of more than a hundred buildings. They have to learn these buildings so well that when they’re leading a tour offered by the center, whether it’s a bicycle, walking, or boat tour, they can do so without sounding like they’re following a script. The CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady departs from the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive on Chicago's Riverwalk just three blocks north of Millennium Park. Daily tours of the CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady are now available. Tickets start at $53.85 and can be purchased online or in-person at the ticket booth located on the Riverwalk. Passengers can take advantage of visiting the award-winning Chicago Architecture Center for an additional $5 and have seven days to visit the Center after their cruise date.
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady
By 1979, a volunteer organization called Friends of the River had been formed to support the restoration of the waterway. At the same time, architects began designing buildings in context with the Chicago River. The shimmering 1983 office building at 333 West Wacker Drive —with its curved, blue-green glass facade designed to reflect the shape and color of the river—perfectly captured this new approach. These factors encouraged CAC’s leaders to recognize that the Chicago River offered one of the most historically and architecturally rich expanses in the city—and that it warranted a larger audience.
Guests will have the opportunity to listen to a pre-recorded tour narration on their smartphone in four different languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean. The translation service is accessible by downloading a free app that connects directly to a special Wi-Fi network onboard. The narration is triggered based on the location of the vessel at that time in the tour’s route, which will help ensure those who use the technology have the same experience as others listening to live narration. This classic tour is a must for out-of-town visitors and Chicagoans alike.
To further enhance accessibility for guests, the CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady will provide complimentary language translation services for the first time-making it the only Chicago architecture River Cruise to offer this service. Guests will have the opportunity to listen to a prerecorded tour narration on their smartphone in four different languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean. The translation service is accessible by downloading a free app that connects directly to a special wi-fi network onboard. The narration is triggered based on the location of the vessel at that time in the tour's route, which will help ensure those who use the technology have the same experience as others listening to live narration. To further enhance accessibility for guests, the CAC River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady will provide complimentary language translation services for the first time—making it the only Chicago architecture River Cruise to offer this service.
VISIT THE CENTER
Welcome to the Official Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady – recognized two years in a row as one of the best boat tours in North America (USA Today Readers’ Choice 2022 Awards). There is enough seating for all guests to sit on our open air upper decks safely and with proper distancing measures in place. While seat numbers are printed on the tickets, you can ignore these as they are not valid.
Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age
Or, treat yourself to a Priority Boarding Ticket, which includes exclusive early boarding period, skip-the-queue during general boarding, and CAC admission. There are enough seats for all guests to have a seat outside, so you won’t have to sit inside unless you want to. Indoor seating is available for those who wish to stay out of the sun or adverse weather conditions. All boats have a full bar available onboard, as well as local, Chicago-area snacks available for purchase.
You can access an ADA ramp at Wacker Drive and State Street. When you reach the Riverwalk level, head two blocks east to reach the dock. Marvel at the original marble, mahogany doors and decorative wrought iron found throughout the two lobbies and uppermost floors of this 1895 building, designed by John Wellborn Root and Charles Atwood. No matter how well you know Chicago, I bet you will, too.
It’s a relaxing and entertaining experience that will have you loving the Windy City even more. You’ll want to arrive at the dock early so you have plenty of time to board. Each tour leaves on time, so you don’t want to miss the boat.
Fasten your seat belts, because you’re going to be blown away by how much you’ll discover. You’ll learn about the movable bridges and why they’re another innovation bred from necessity. Recalling the handsome elegance of 20th century luxury yachts, our vessels are sure to make an impression.
Guests who are able to transfer may use the company's manual wheelchair based on availability.Visit our accessibility page for more information. Experience why the CAC's boat cruise is rated the best year after year. A continuation of last year’s popular program that looked at Art Deco buildings outside of downtown Chicago, Part 2 showcases surprising sites on the city’s far north and northwest sides. The result is tour guides who not only love the city’s buildings and history, but also are equipped with countless stories about how Chicago was shaped.
5 MIN READ – This year marks the 30th anniversary of the tour, operated in partnership by Chicago's First Lady Cruises and the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC). Led by the Chicago Architecture Center's knowledgeable and expertly trained docent volunteers abroad the city's most luxurious fleet, the cruise reveals fascinating stories behind Chicago's majestic buildings in a way no other tour can. For more than 25 years, the CAC's expertly trained docent volunteers have led the CAC River Cruise, sharing fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. Hear how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world's largest cities in less than 100 years. In just 90 minutes, you'll get the best overview of Chicago’s architecture and its history. Today, the view from the river reveals a skyscraper canyon full of historic and contemporary milestones.
The tour has earned its place among the leading attractions not just in Chicago, but across the country. Everyone who takes this cruise will have an enhanced appreciation for this city that works, because once you understand the making of Chicago, you’ll never look at it the same again. If you take one of these tours it’s easy to see why.
