Gallery Tours
Exhibition Tours
See Chicago’s past and present from new perspectives with guided or self-guided tours.
Highlights of Chicago
Discover the city’s vast and colorful history on a tour of our permanent exhibition, Chicago: Crossroads of America.
Chicago’s World’s Fairs
Experience the grandeur of the magnificent White City of 1893 and the rainbow-colored oasis created in 1933.
Chicago’s Innovations
Learn about the city’s many innovations that have impacted American life, such as its renowned skyscrapers, modern retail practices, social reform and everyday products that have all shaped Chicago’s leading-city status.
Facing Freedom
Using images, artifacts and interactivity, this exhibition explores familiar and not-so-familiar stories from the nation’s past where Americans have struggled over the true meaning of freedom.
Out in Chicago
May 21, 2011–March 26, 2012
Discover Chicago through the lens of gender, sexuality and nonconformity with this groundbreaking exhibition that explores 150 years of Chicago’s diverse LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) history.
Charles James: Genius Deconstructed
October 22, 2011–April 16, 2012
This exhibition presents the career of Charles James, one of America’s only fashion designers to have worked in the pure tradition of haute couture, and his renowned mastery of craft and technical details.
Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 50 people for permanent exhibitions, maximum varies for special exhibitions
Duration: 50–60 minutes
Cost: $14 adults, $13 seniors and students
Curators Guided Tour
Get a first-hand account from one of our curators about his or her vision of a current exhibition’s scope and its development.
Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 25 people
Duration: 60 minutes
Cost: Call 312.799.2162 or e-mail grouptours@chicagohistory.org
Self-Guided Tour
Learn all about Chicago history as you stroll through the galleries at your own pace. Audio tours of Chicago: Crossroads of America are available for $2 per person.
Group size: Minimum 10, maximum 100 people
Duration: 2–4 hours
Cost: $11 adults, $9 seniors and students
History Scavenger Hunt
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: $13 adults, $11 seniors and students
