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. See our full list of offerings.

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods with each one featuring distinct buildings and residences. Now that more of our house history resources are available online, you can get a personalized walk-through of them with Ellen Keith, CHM director of Research and Access. Get more information.

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.

For 2022, tours are available Tuesday, July 5, through Tuesday, November 1.

Tours happen rain or shine. Attendees should dress appropriately for the weather.

Pricing options:

• Jaffee History Trail only
• Jaffee History Trail + guided tour of permanent exhibition Chicago: Crossroads of America or Chicago’s World’s Fair gallery tour
• 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 and Chicago’s World’s Fairs guided tours available May 2022.

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!

Chicago’s World’s Fairs

From the White City of 1893 to the rainbow-colored oasis of 1933, experience the wonder of Chicago’s world’s fairs.

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.

Duration: 50–60 minutes

Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 45 people

Cost: $21 for adults; $19 for seniors (65+) and college students

Learn all about Chicago history as you stroll through the galleries at your own pace.

Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 100 people

Duration: 2–4 hours. The group rate of $17 for adults and $15 for seniors/college students applies. 

How much do you know about Chicago? Test your knowledge with a scavenger hunt in the Museum. This tour is ideal for team-building or for a fun way to experience history.

Cost: $2 per person in addition to the self-guided tour fee.

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Lace up your shoes and explore them on foot! Tours run 1.5 to 2 hours. Contact [email protected] for pricing.

Masks are recommended and social distancing of 6 feet must be observed.

Tours subject to availability. Please schedule 4 weeks in advance. The following tours are available from May to October 2022.*

*Note: Graceland Cemetery tour will only be available May 1–31, 2022. Rosehill Cemetery tour will be available June 1–Oct. 31, 2022

Historic Old Town

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.

Glitterati on the Gold Coast

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.

Pilsen Murals

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 19^th Street.

Bronzeville

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 35^th Street and Martin Luther King Drive.

Graceland Cemetery

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.

Rosehill Cemetery

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.