Walking Tour: Chicago's Prairie Ave Dist. - Street of the Elite

5.0
(24 reviews)

4 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

This extraordinary tour of the Prairie Ave District is one not to be missed.

Get a sense for how Chicago's wealthiest residents lived around the turn of the century and what remains today. This unique Chicago tour begins with an exploration of one of the city's newly-revitalized spaces: The stunning Chicago Athletic Association Hotel.

A short ride on the Green Line takes us to the Prairie Ave District, home to many historic sites such as Motor Row, the former Chess Records and the oldest house in the city. As we wander along Prairie Ave, we're treated to historic mansions and a beautiful park. The highlights of the tour, however, are TWO private, docent-led mini tours at the national landmark Second Presbyterian Church (with its many Tiffany windows) and the Glessner House. We'll also take a mid-tour break at a local employee-owned/woman-owned cafe. Then we board the train back to the Loop for our final stop (and a sweet treat) at the elegant Palmer House Hotel.

What's Included

Transit tickets
Church and Glessner House donation/fee
Local expert guide
Gratuities
Food and beverages

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Find your guide inside lobby, immediately to left

End point
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel

We end our tour with a sweet treat at this beautiful historic building

Itinerary

Duration: 4 hours (approximately)
  • 1

    Meet your guide and kick things off with a tour of this historic hotel. Then we'll head to Washington & Wabash to board the Green line train to the Prairie District.

    50 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 2

    After a brief stroll from the Cermak L station, guests will learn about the building that produced some of the most well-known and influential Blues music of Chicago.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

    Guests will receive a private docent-led mini tour.

    40 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 4

    Take a break and enjoy a snack at this unique employee-owned/woman-owned cafe (purchases optional).

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    Guests will receive a private docent-led mini tour.

    40 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 6

    Guests will see the oldest house in Chicago and learn how elite Chicagoans lived at the turn of the century.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7
    Palmer House Hilton Historic Lobby

    After our train ride back to the Loop, we'll explore the beautiful interior of this famous building and end the tour with a sweet treat.

    40 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Should be able to climb stairs as not all train stations are equipped with elevators
Supplied by L Stop Tours

Tags

Half-day Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Likely to Sell Out
Small Group
Excellent Quality

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 24 24 reviews
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