Architectural Tour by Chicago River, Chicago, IL: May 3, 2023

The Wrigley building (clock face) and the Chicago Tribune Building (right)

Our architectural tour by river began across the river at the base of the DuSable Bridge (Michigan Avenue) between the Wrigley building and the Chicago Tribune Building. We booked a 90-min Tour with Wendella scheduled for 4:45 pm-the golden hour tour. The DuSable Bridge was festooned with flags: American flags, Illinois State flags, and Ukrainian flags. 

Although the sun was out it was still cold and also windy up top, but the best view is on the upper deck. This is also where the architectural tour guide was located. Our guide was very good at telling us interesting facts about the riverside architecture. The boat headed up river to River Point where we turned right to the north branch of the Chicago River.

52-story River Point building

Continuing on the north branch headed toward Kinzie Park and Goose Island the boat turned back toward River Point to travel the south branch of the Chicago River.

Because commercial river traffic no longer plies the river, the moveable bridges on the north branch have been decommissioned. The bridge tender houses are unused most of the year. 

Bridge Tender's House (green)

I found the Chicago River's south branch more interesting with its aging, gritty infrastructure. The last moveable bridge before the vertical-lift bridge was stuck in the up position looking very much like a dead insect.

 

The boat went as far as the Vertical Lift bridge which does not move because it is old. It stays lifted just enough to let boat traffic through. The park on the left (below) is in Chinatown. This is where the boat turned back down river.

Vertical Lift Railroad (now Amtrak) Bridge 1915

The Art Moderne/Art Deco 1920s Union Station Power House

River City Apartments (same architect as Marina City Towers)

Headed downstream on the main branch of the Chicago River

During prohibition, the architects of the 1929 Carbide and Carbon building chose green and gold so the building would resemble a gold-foiled champagne bottle. This is one of the buildings we slipped into to see the stunning Art Deco details. It is now a hotel and residences.

Gold topped Carbide and Carbon Building

Entrance to the Carbide and Carbon Building

Elevators inside the Carbide and Carbon Building

St. Regis Chicago (101 floors) is the world's tallest building designed by a woman. Jeanne Gang also designed the second tallest building in the world, Aqua, which sits just a few meters away.

St Regis Chicago

At the Navy Pier in Lake Michigan, the boat turned back toward Michigan Avenue and their dock.

 

The guide gave us a lot of information about what we were seeing. Not every detail stuck. The architecture from the river was a marvel. Take the river trip and see for yourself.

We enjoyed everything about Chicago except Chicago Pizza. The boat's guide recommended Pizza Portofino located not far from where we were staying. The pizza was Italian style and it was great. 

We also tried Crumbl cookies which we've read about but hadn't yet tried. Glad there isn't a store too close to us.  

Tomorrow we fly to Columbus to see my beautiful niece graduate with a Master of Science in Nursing emphasis in Neonatal from The Ohio State University's nursing program.