Chicago Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour

What your day looks like

Learn about Chicago's history, culture, and architecture on a self-guided tour via an app. Enjoy animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms. Start by downloading the app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one (download instructions received via email after booking). After downloading the app, head to the starting point of the tour at McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. As you being to walk, spot the DuSable Bridge and learn about the iconic terracotta Wrigley Building. From there, head west and pass Wabash Bridge, once voted America’s Most Beautiful Bridge. After that, see the Chicago Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. Next, stop by the 600-foot Marina Towers. Learn how these towers function as a “city within a city.” Head to the Dearborn Street Bridge and hear why an angry mob once gathered here with axes. Listen to the tale of one of the strangest and deadliest shipwrecks in American history. Learn how a devastating shipwreck happened on a river only 20-feet deep. Continue on toward the Merchandise Mart, a gorgeous example of Art Deco architecture. Learn how the Chicago River helped this city go from a small settlement to a bustling hub of culture and commerce. Next, arrive at Wolf Point, where Chicago’s very first hotel stood almost 200 years ago. Dig into the era when this place was little more than a wild frontier, then head back the way you came for the final section of the tour. Stop at the Tribune Tower containing pieces of historic buildings from across the world, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Berlin Wall. Next, come face to face with NBC’s Chicago headquarters, modeled after the famous skyscraper at 30 Rockefeller Center. Finally, arrive at the last bridge separating the Chicago River from Lake Michigan, where the tour concludes. Take in the soothing scenery and snap a few photos for your Instagram.