West Section: Downtown Chicago Walking Tour

Being retired, I check my email and texts only about every two days. Believe me, phone is best: 312-550-3807. Yes, texting is possible, but other than the most utterly simple question, such as you wanting to postpone the start by five minutes, I am likely to answer with, "It'll be way easier if we just get on the phone. Plus, we can customize your tour by chatting!" Believe me, customizing the tour will make for a MUCH more rewarding experience for you, your time, and your investment. On this tour, you will see numerous ultra modern, beautiful, soaring office buildings, but also, an entire century of history: the great railroad era of business tycoons, the roaring twenties/gangster era, etc., etc. Gorgeous libraries, courthouses, monuments, you name it.

1. 1910: City Hall/County building: Chicago seeing itself as the reincarnation of Ancient Rome. 2. The world-famous, two story tall, ultra modern sculpture designed by Picasso himself. 3. Panorama of Chicago as the banking center of the Midwest, as seen in grand, consciously proud banks built 1880-1910. 4. Four, excellent, towering examples of the ultra sleek "modern" architecture of the late 1920's, known as Art Deco. Chicago, along with New York creating its own Empire State building, created this style as much as any city in the world. The marble interiors are especially noteworthy. 5. Union Station. Walk back into the world of 1910, when travel by railroad was king, prior to the advent of the automobile. Soaring lobby and dome, travelers from all parts, and in your imagination at least, the uniformed conductor's cry, "All Aboard!" You are in a movie from yesteryear. 6. Two branches of the Chicago River itself. It bisects and pervades this tour, giving great, unobstructed views of the buildings. 7.