First Lady - Chicago, Illinois

Vivian A.

We did a river architecture cruise in March. It was $56 a person and the ticket included discounted admission to the architecture museum. We happened to be in Chicago during a chilly weekend - the daily high was 38F so the cruise was quite chilly. Likely due to the cold weather, the boat wasn't crowded so there was a lot of room in the top deck for viewing. Despite that, the 90 minute cruise was enjoyable. Our host, Scott was very passionate and informative about architecture and he did a good job of keeping you interested for the entire tour. He also would tell you when it would be a good time to take pictures. The boat has a bathroom and a place to buy drinks as well. I learned a lot and it was a great way to see the buildings. I would definitely recommend taking this river cruise.

J

Excellent tour! Best guides ever.
I absolutely love this fun fact-filled tour and have been on it a few times. Great views of the city no matter where you sit.
In the middle of the tour, they stop at a great spot so you can take a picture of the Chicago skyline.
Breathtaking architecture and history. Makes me proud to be from around here.

Definitely a go-to if you're in Chicago. You will NOT regret it. Seeing the city by boat versus walking has a completely different feel.

Every time I'm downtown and see a building, my mind just recalls the amazing story or fact from the tour. You really appreciate the architectural planning that went into the buildings after experiencing this tour.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Paula G.

Iconic Chicago experience.
The evening boat tour at sunset time was an experience to remember. After spending a few days in the city, it was nice seeing it from a different perspective and learning about the landscape.
You can choose to sit upstairs (outdoors), or downstairs (indoors) which was heated. We took the tour in mid November, and by the end of it, we were quite cold and had to go downstairs.
Highly recommended. Just wear warm clothes.

Alex Z.

Took the architecture boat tour yesterday 5pm in freezing rain but our guide John made it worth every penny! John talked almost non-stop for the entire 90 minutes. Despite the awful weather, he stood out there getting soaked while explaining every single building with incredible passion. Most of us were hiding inside staying warm but he kept going with the same enthusiasm from start to finish. John’s knowledge of Chicago’s buildings was amazing and you could tell he genuinely loves what he does. If you visit Chicago, definitely do this tour - the dedication of docents like John is something special!

Kimberly D.

I had a few hours to spare when visiting Chicago for business. I could have easily strolled along the streets, but really wanted to find a way to take in what the city offers in sights and architecture in the fastest way possible (I was flying home in the morning).

The hotel recommended the First Lady Architecture Cruise. I was very lucky to have amazing weather, so this was a no-brainer. I purchased the ticket, got there 15 minutes before boarding (also recommended) and snagged a seat in front of the boat. It was amazing. The views and history were perfect. I loved hearing the stories of how certain things came about. Learning about the different designs as we glided up and down the river was so fun! The timing of this trip also coincided with a beautiful sunset.

I HIGHLY recommend this tour (even if you don’t care about architecture). It was a great way to see the sights.

A++ for our guide as well. Sadly I didn’t catch his name, but he deserves a pat on the back for his tours!

Gustav K.

This is, hands down, one of the “must-do” activities in Chicago. Since its foundation in 1803, Chicago has had a remarkable influence on the world of architecture. This 90 minute boat tour takes you through it all and makes you consider the city from a new perspective. All led by volunteering tour guides.

I’ve done it before, and will keep coming back. On this occasion we had Mark C as guide - and he did a great job.

Jennifer B.

The docent seemed extremely knowledgeable about the history of downtown Chicago and its buildings, especially along the riverfront. The views from the boat were amazing! It was well worth spending 90 minutes of our time & would do it again, Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady!

Kenneth G.

We had an incredible experience on the Chicago Architecture Center Cruise with Chicago's First Lady. The tour was not only super educational but also a lot of fun! It was fascinating to learn about the history of Chicago and the stories behind all the iconic skyscrapers over time. We were fortunate to catch the last day of the tour, which made it even more special. A special shout out to Jim, 😆 I mean Dr.S..He was absolutely superb! Thank you, Dr.S for making our tour memorable