Adult Group Visits
Experience history, together
Stories are always better when shared! Bring your group to the Chicago History Museum and walk in the footsteps of the city’s past on a private tour. Groups of ten or more adults receive a discount when reserving at least four weeks in advance.
Whether you are a professional tour operator, group planner, or you simply have a lot of friends and family, we have an experience for you. Customized itineraries, Museum tours, city tours, and a variety of lunch options are just some of the ways we can specialize your group’s visit. We also have virtual options.
- Looking to book a field trip for a K-12 group? Visit our field trips page.
- Are you one of our university partners? Sign up for your group visit here.
Current Offerings
Our expert group sales team has carefully crafted private tours that tell Chicago’s story both inside the Museum and out in the city. You can also take a self-guided tour or enjoy a virtual experience with one of our experts.
Museum Tours
Book your walking tour of the new must-see destination at Lincoln Park’s southwest corner—the Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail! Examine a historic fire relic from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, visit the Couch Tomb (a reminder that the area was once a cemetery), and take in a collection of community-inspired kinetic sculptures by local artist Bernard Williams. Then, visit additional tour stops that amplify Chicago’s personality, highlighting the city’s resilience, connectivity, natural beauty, and complexities.
Tours happen rain or shine. Attendees should dress appropriately for the weather.
Tour options:
- Jaffee History Trail only
- Jaffee History Trail + guided tour of permanent exhibition Chicago: Crossroads of America
- Jaffee History Trail + guided tour of a feature exhibition, such as City on Fire: Chicago 1871 or any other temporary exhibition
- Jaffee History Trail + self-guided exploration of CHM (the discounted group rate)
Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 25 people
Duration: 30 minutes. For group rate, please inquire through the online form below.
Learn the backstory and see Chicago’s past and present from a historian’s perspective with guided or self-guided tours.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CHICAGO
Discover the city’s vast history in Chicago: Crossroads of America. Whether you want to explore the grandeur of the world fairs of 1893 and 1933, or Chicago innovations that changed the world like skyscrapers and modern retail, or the diverse neighborhoods and lively cultural scene, this exhibition is a must see!
CITY ON FIRE: CHICAGO 1871
A rapidly growing city built of wood. A summer-long heat wave. An exhausted and misdirected team of firefighters. Racial, social, and economic tensions bubbling just below the surface. All Chicago needed was a spark. Learn more about our exhibition, which opened on October 8, 2021, the 150th anniversary of when the Great Chicago Fire began.
BACK HOME: POLISH CHICAGO
Through the lens of Chicago’s Polish communities, experience the journeys immigrants have taken to get to the city, the ways they have established themselves in its neighborhoods, and the duality of feeling a deep connection to two places at once.
Duration: 50–60 minutes
Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 45 people
Cost: $21 for adults; $19 for seniors (65+) and college students
City Walking Tours
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods—lace up your shoes and explore them on foot! Tours run 1.5 to 2 hours. Contact grouptours@chicagohistory.org for pricing.
Tours subject to availability. Please schedule 4 weeks in advance. The following tours are available from May to October 2022.*
*Note: Cemetery Tours are now available through October 31, 2022.
From postfire recovery to the hub of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s, Old Town reveals diverse stories about the city’s past. Highlights include a shelter cottage, St. Michael’s Church, the Midwest Buddhist Temple, and numerous historic residences. Minimum 10 participants.
Meet at the Chicago History Museum.
Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. Gaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway, and take in Chicago’s early mansions, including the Archbishop’s Residence. Minimum 10 participants.
Meet at the Chicago History Museum.
Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures. The tour weaves the history of Pilsen with vibrant large-scale murals and lived personal experiences. Minimum 20 participants.
Meet outside the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 West 19th Street.
Did you know that Bronzeville is home to many of Chicago’s treasured landmarks? This tour gets you up close to the culture, history, landmarks, and great stories in a great neighborhood. We’ll see the Walk of Fame, celebrate the music, learn about how the Black Belt became the Black Metropolis, and celebrate the cultural institutions that existed and endure. Minimum 20 participants.
Meet at the SE corner of 35th Street and Martin Luther King Drive.
Discover the remarkable stories of the Chicago elite buried in this famous cemetery, including Marshall Field, Louis Sullivan, George Pullman, and Potter and Bertha Palmer. Minimum 20 participants.
Meet at 4001 North Clark Street.
Featuring beautifully landscaped grounds and grand monuments, this walking tour led by CHM volunteer Scottie Perry reveals the history of the city’s growth and its diverse inhabitants. Embark on an architectural journey through the Victorian-era section of one of the city’s most notable cemeteries. Encounter some of the most complete commemorations of the Civil War, including the graves of fourteen Union generals, six drummer boys, and hundreds of Civil War soldiers. Tour is 2 hours. Minimum 20 participants, maximum 25.
Meet at 5800 North Ravenswood Ave.
Virtual Experiences
Delve into Chicago history from wherever you are! Our new exclusive lectures with Chicago History Museum curatorial staff can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, your virtual office, or incorporated into your next virtual event.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to Get Started?
Request Your Private Group Tour or Experience Here
Groups of ten or more—social organizations, hobbyists, even huge families—can enjoy savings by booking at least four weeks in advance.
Your group will have access to a dedicated entrance, including access for motor coaches and buses. A CHM representative will meet your group, answer any questions you may have, and get your visit off to a great start.