Chicago Riverwalk & History Self-Guided Walking Tour

Welcome to the Chicago Walking Tour

Welcome to Chicago’s scenic Riverwalk. It spans from Lake Michigan west to Franklin Street. Called the city’s ‘Second Lakefront,’ the Riverwalk contains restaurants during the summer months, relaxing seating areas, boat rentals, and theater-style seating for various performances. Other attractions on the Chicago Walking Tour include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza and the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum and if you are lucky enough, see a bridge lift from inside the bridge house.

About the Tour

Your tour begins with the historic DuSable Bridge. Here, you’ll learn about this picturesque bridge (built on the site of a pitched battle between America and Great Britain in 1812) and the iconic terra cotta Wrigley Building.

From there, you’ll head west, past Wabash Bridge, once voted America’s Most Beautiful Bridge. You’ll want to snap a photo or two here! After that, you’ll arrive at the Chicago Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a moving tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

It’ll be hard to miss the next stop–the 600-foot-tall Marina Towers. Learn how these towers function as a “city within a city,” then continue to the Dearborn Street Bridge, where an angry mob once gathered with axes! Hear the full story of why they were so unhappy with the bridge’s predecessor, then continue your stroll.

As you walk, you’ll hear the tale of one of the strangest and deadliest shipwrecks in American history, which happened right on the Chicago River. How does a devastating shipwreck happen on a river only 20 feet deep? Well, a lot more easily than you’d think!

Continuing toward the Merchandise Mart, a gorgeous example of the art deco style popular in the 1920s and ’30s, you’ll learn the surprising history of the Chicago River and how it helped this city go from a small settlement to a bustling hub of culture and commerce.

Next, you’ll 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.

Your next stop on the Chicago walking tour will be the Tribune Tower, the new home of the Chicago Tribune. But this skyscraper isn’t just about reporting the news–it also contains pieces of historic buildings from across the world, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Berlin Wall!

Up next, you might think you’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in New York City because you’ll come face to face with NBC’s Chicago headquarters, which were modeled after the famous skyscraper at 30 Rockefeller Center.

Finally, you’ll arrive at the last bridge separating the Chicago River from Lake Michigan. It’s a perfect place to take in the soothing scenery and an even better place to snap a few photos for your Instagram. The tour concludes here.

Starting Point Address: 65 Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago