The Twentieth Century Society

Campaigning for outstanding buildings

Chicago 2025 Tour

Above: The Chicago River with the Jewelers Building (35 East Wacker) 1927 by Joachim Giæver and Frederick P. Dinkelberg in foreground 
© Alan John Ainsworth

Chicago 2025 Tour

Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 May 2025

Start time/place: 9am/‘Cloud Gate’, Millennium Park. (For Saturday Pre-event: 4.30pm/Michigan Avenue Bridge)

Finish time/place 6pm/O’Hare Airport

A week in Chicago led by Brent Smith, assisted by Carolyn Parmeter, to see magnificent buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van de Rohe and many others, including influential pre-1914 buildings. Two coach tours to visit the SC Johnson HQ and Farnsworth House.

Saturday 17 For those arriving before the tour there will be a walk along the ‘Magnificent Mile’ finishing at the 360° Chicago Observation Deck.

Sunday 18 Introduction to the city, optional ballgame at Wrigley Field to see the Cubs play the White Sox (the game is not included in the price), then a walk round the old town followed by a group dinner.

Monday 19 Downtown Chicago, visiting the Chicago Architecture Center followed by a river trip.

Tuesday 20 Oak Park: Frank Lloyd Wright’s House (1889) and Studio (1898) and his Unity Temple (1909).

Wednesday 21 Art Deco in the LaSalle Street Historic District including the Chicago Board of Trade, (Holabird & Root, 1930), the Rookery (Burnham and Root, 1888, with alterations by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1905), the Auditorium (Adler & Sullivan) and finishing at River City (Bertrand Goldberg, 1972).

Thursday 22 Coach to Racine for the SC Johnson Headquarters (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1939) followed by either ‘Wingspread’ or on to Milwaukee Art Museum (Eero Saarinen 1957 with extension by Santiago Calatrava 2001).

Friday 23 Marina City (Bertrand Goldberg, 1968) and Illinois Institute of Technology including Crown Hall (Mies van de Rohe,1956) and Rem Koolhaas (2003) buildings. Visit to Robie House (Frank Loyd Wright, 1909). Last Night dinner.

Saturday 24 a coach tour of South Chicago, then to the Farnsworth House (Mies van der Rohe, 1951) and Ford House (Bruce Goff, 1950), finishing at O’Hare airport (the coach will travel via Aurora Railway Station for trains to Union Station for those not flying that evening).

Brent Smith is a retired building surveyor who has been a member of the Society for nearly 30 years. He held several posts in the Building Preservation movement and gives talks and leads walks based on Twentieth Century buildings.

C20 Members £1,100

Includes: Chicago CityPASS expedited wntry ticket giving access to 360° Chicago Observation Deck, the SkyDeck, Art Institute of Chicago and other attractions, Seven-day CTA Pass (Sunday to Saturday) covering all transport in Chicago, River Architectural Trip, two coach tours and all entry fees.

Numbers are limited to 25

Please note: unfortunately contrary to the promotion in the recent C20 magazine, a visit to Talliesin East will not be part of the trip

C20 Society are not liable for any other costs including travel, accommodation, and meals. You must take out travel insurance, and read our cancellation policy and disclaimer click here.

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Looking to support our campaigning? Donate to our casework here.

The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.

The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244

Above: The Chicago River with the Jewelers Building (35 East Wacker) 1927 by Joachim Giæver and Frederick P. Dinkelberg in foreground
© Alan John Ainsworth

Member Only Event

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