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Retro River North Walking Tour

4 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 4 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Chicago, USA
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from $45 per person

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100 to 120 minutes (approx.)
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Overview

On this tour, you will get to see several establishments and their amazing vintage signs and vintage neon signs. Plus along the way I will show and tell you all about many notable properties like I always do. It’s hard to walk past a historical place and not include it on the tour - even though they may not have a vintage sign they are still as much a part of Chicago’s history. You'll get a brief history of each establishment for a true time travel experience.

What's Included

  • Historical photos of each stop in a free app
  • Alcoholic beverages If travelers decide to go listen to jazz at the Tortoise Supper Club afterwards, food and beverages ordered are not included with the ticket price of this tour
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

North La Salle Drive
Chicago, IL 60654, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654, USA

The tour ends at the Tortoise Supper Club at 350 N. State Street - near the Chicago River on State Street (by Marina City).

What To Expect

St. James Cathedral

When you visit St. James Cathedral, you can pray in the same space as Abraham Lincoln, who worshipped at St. James shortly after being elected President in 1860.After the Civil War, tremendous growth led the church to enlarge and redecorate on an even grander scale. A few weeks after the splendidly redesigned church was formally rededicated in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire erupted, leaving nothing but the stone walls, and the bell tower, whose bells gave warning to the neighborhood of the fire.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Richard H. Driehaus Museum

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is housed within the historic Samuel M. Nickerson House, built in 1883 for this wealthy Chicago banker.The mansion was designed for Samuel M. Nickerson by one of Chicago's earliest prominent architects, Edward J. Burling of the architectural firm Burling & Whitehouse. Construction took four years and cost $450,000; it was reportedly the most expensive and elaborate private residence in Chicago at the time of its completion in 1883.The interiors are spectacular with marble, onyx, carved exotic and domestic woods, glazed tiles, and stained glass. On display are original furnishings from the Nickerson era along with American and European decorative arts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including art nouveau furnishings and a number of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.Photos of the interior will be accessible during the tour.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Murphy

The six-story, 32,000-square-foot Murphy Auditorium was built between 1923 and 1926 by the American College of Surgeons. It was designed by noted Chicago architects Benjamin Marshall and Charles E. Fox of Marshall and Fox who also designed the Edgewater Beach Apartment building, often called the Pink Palace.It was added to the Driehaus Museum’s footprint in 2022.The building features a pair of cast bronze doors produced by Tiffany Studios at the front entrance. And not only is it one of the most spectacular structures in all of Chicago but it has two of the most incredible doorways in the city too!Photos of the interior will be accessible during the tour.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tree Studio Complex

Commissioned in 1894 by philanthropist and arts patron Judge Lambert Tree and his wife Anna Field Tree who was the daughter of Marshall Field, the Tree Studios were designed as an artists’ residence and have been home to over 500 artists. You’ve likely heard of the famous Ivy Room which is here inside Tree Studios and makes for a spectacular venue for events and especially weddings.Some of the great artists which have called the Tree Studios home include sculptors Albin Polasek and John Storrs; illustrator J. Allen St. John; muralist John Warner Norton, painters Ruth Van Sickle Ford, John Singer Sargent, and Pauline Palmer; and actors Peter Falk and Burgess Meredith.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

P.O.S.H

In 1997, P.O.S.H. opened its doors in Chicago, with a desire to offer something unique to the consumer that had grown weary of “sameness”. The small shop was met with a warm reception as the search for pieces that haven’t been mass-produced for coast–to–coast consumption was shared by many.The owners search high and low for authentic items that stock its shelves — an eclectic assortment of vintage Hotel and Estate Silver, Restaurant China, and Dinnerware and an ever–changing mix of European Flea Market Finds.We will step inside and you will be instantly transported to a Parisian-type flea market atmosphere. In the back of the shop and you can catch a glimpse into the courtyard of the Tree Studios.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Redhead Piano Bar

Redhead Piano Bar has one of the coolest and most fun vintage neon signs in the city I think!Tucked away on bustling Ontario Street, The Redhead Piano Bar has been a neighborhood mainstay and a favorite among locals and tourists alike since 1993. Offering nightly live piano music, The Redhead is the perfect late-night spot for upbeat performances, engaging conversation, and meeting new people.It’s a cocktail piano bar dressed in yesteryear memorabilia which draws in the well-heeled for crooners & cocktails.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hard Rock Cafe Chicago

Hard Rock Cafe Chicago is marked by the giant iconic guitar that illuminates the parking lot.For more than 30 years the cafe has been a one-of-a-kind dining, entertainment, and shopping destination known worldwide for embracing funky styles and blending them with legendary food, beverages, live music, and music history.Hard Rock International is the world’s largest curator of music memorabilia, and the cafe walls are lined with priceless pieces from musical legends like Billy Joel, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

House of Blues Chicago

About 30 years ago, House of Blues was founded with a simple but powerful mantra far ahead of its time in the U.S:Unity in Diversity.The pursuit of peace, love, community, and acceptance has guided the organization’s cultural development and continues to gain new meaning and applications over the passing of time.House of Blues is committed to using its venues, voice, and platform to advocate passionately for human expression, racial equality, and spiritual harmony.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Retro River North Walking Tour?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

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Activity code: C-311960P4

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Reviews

5.00
4 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 4 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Retro River North Walking Tour?
A:
This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Historical photos of each stop in a free app.
The following is NOT included:
  • Alcoholic beverages. If travelers decide to go listen to jazz at the Tortoise Supper Club afterwards, food and beverages ordered are not included with the ticket price of this tour.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 10. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Retro River North Walking Tour is as follows:

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Retro River North Walking Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Historical photos of each stop in a free app
  • Alcoholic beveragesIf travelers decide to go listen to jazz at the Tortoise Supper Club afterwards, food and beverages ordered are not included with the ticket price of this tour

Additional Info

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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Non-refundable

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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