BYOB Chicago River Guided History Tour
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Discover the fascinating history of Chicago from a whole new perspective — on the water! This 120-minute Guided History Tour along the Chicago River brings the city’s past to life through captivating stories, iconic landmarks, and little-known facts that shaped the Windy City into what it is today. • Chicago’s transformation from swamp land to industrial hub to the modern metropolis it is today • The dramatic story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and how the city rebuilt stronger than ever • Tales of Chicago’s most infamous gangsters and Prohibition-era legends • The groundbreaking 1893 World’s Fair and the inventions it introduced to the world • The incredible reversal of the Chicago River — its purpose and lasting impact on the city’s future Step aboard and experience how history, architecture, and innovation flow together on this unforgettable journey through Chicago’s past and present.
Inclusions
What's included
- Coolers and Ice
- Local Knowledgeable Guide
What's not
- Drinks, but you are welcome to bring any drinks you want (no glass please)
- Snacks/food, but you are welcome to bring any onboard
Itinerary
The Party Barge is a unique way to cruise the Chicago River and lakefront. The boat features a u-shaped bar, surrounded by bar stools. The boat is equipped with a head (bathroom), charging ports, additional seating at the bow and coolers with ice. All cruises are BYOB, 120 minutes long and depart from the Chicago Riverwalk (between the LaSalle Street and Wells Street bridges).
Off the to the south side of the river we will see the site where the first American settlement, Ft Dearborn, once stood.
This was the site where the 1871 Great Chicago Fire started.
In 1992 a hole formed under this bridge which lead to the Great Flood, shutting Chicago down for a whole week!
These buildings built in 1964 are considered the pivot point from Chicago's Industrial Age into the Residential Metropolitan it is today.
Learn about the reverse of the Chicago River how that has formed the city over the last century.
Here we get to learn about the World's Fair of 1893 and the inventions we still use today that were introduced here.
In the late 1800's Captain Santa set up shop on his sail boat the Rouse Simmons to sell Christmas Trees every winter at this corner of the river.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 54
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 4 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Our Water Plaza location is situated along the Chicago Riverwalk between the LaSalle and Wells bridges. A staircase located at the northwest corner of Wacker and LaSalle provides access from the street. The check-in office is next to Sweet Home Gelato.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 18 travellers
- Operated by
- Chicago Boat Company
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Chicago
- Its from-price is 23% below the median of the 106 city tours we list in Chicago.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 68 of 106.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Chicago
Chicago is a Great Lakes city on Lake Michigan, famed for skyscraper architecture, deep-dish pizza, blues and jazz and a long lakefront of parks.
Chicago rebuilt itself after the fire of 1871 and became the cradle of the skyscraper. The Chicago River runs through the Loop, where tall towers rise, and boat tours explain the architecture from the water. Millennium Park's mirrored Cloud Gate sculpture, known as the Bean, and the Art Institute of Chicago, with its Impressionist paintings, are close together. Willis Tower has a glass-floored observation deck.
Top-ranked sights in Chicago: Navy Pier, Wrigley Building, The Magnificent Mile.
Special offers in Chicago
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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