Top Illinois Historical Tours

Visit the birthplace of a truly American architecture. Wright’s Oak Park Home and Studio served as both residence and workplace for the first 20 years of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's career. See how he tried out innovative design ideas in his own home, and learn about the visionary Prairie style that evolved in his famous studio.

This is our most comprehensive tour of Starved Rock Country’s history, its present and where we will be in the future. Plotting for the Illinois & Michigan Canal began with Ottawa & Chicago, Illinois in the 1830’s. Once completed the future of the yet formed State of Illinois was pinned on the I&M Canal with Ottawa at the center. Awesome Ottawa Tours aims to find the history that even Google doesn’t know. The corky, bizarre, tragic and heroic history of our area is shared over a fun and intriguing easy ride on our trails and side streets. Tours offered daily April-October.

This Tour is the quickest, best way to explore a place that you are visiting for the first time, we take you to all the hot spots in the city in less than a day. We take care of everything for you, from picking you up at your hotel, to making reservations, parking, helping you with photos, all the way to dropping you off back where you started. zero worries and 100 percent enjoyment.

Make the best of your visit to Chicago and explore the interiors of the emblematic Loop of Chicago downtown with a private licensed guide. You will enjoy a private tour and discover the hidden architectural treasures of Chicago with a local expert

2 hours of being a kid again!!! Take a Segway tour with us and discover how beautiful Chicago truly is. Ride through some of Chicago's most popular destinations with an experienced guide. We will glide through scenic and historic downtown Chicago and explore the beautiful Grant Park, around the Buckingham Fountain, near the Museum Campus and near the lakefront. Or take our Riverwalk tour to explore the Chicago River to view Navy Pier and famous Chicago bridges, traveling up historic Michigan Avenue and passing by Millennium Park. No matter which tour you choose, it will be a memory lasting a lifetime!

Experience Chicago's legendary architecture and the exceptional architects who created this ever-changing legacy for all to admire. This family-friendly introduction to the Windy City's rich history and architectural heritage features highlights from Wendella's full-length architecture tours. Hop aboard our world class vessels as our local authentic tour guides showcase our amazing city. This tour departs from the Chicago Riverwalk between Clark and LaSalle Streets at the River Theatre.

Immerse yourself in Chicago’s bounty of pizza offerings, and learn about the Windy City’s pizza traditions beyond the classic deep-dish, on this small-group walking tour. Designed by a James Beard Award-winning food journalist, this tour takes place in the city’s vibrant and hip Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods. Meet your group prior to lunch, and be sure to come hungry: you’ll visit four different pizzerias, and will enjoy tastes at each one. As you go, meet the chefs behind the pizza, and learn about Chicago’s culinary traditions.

Immerse yourself in the pizza culture of Chicago with this tour de force of the city's 10 pizza styles. Go beyond deep dish with commentary from your food-loving guide and tastes of four different types over the course of the half-day tour. Learn about some of the most interesting Chicago neighborhoods and their culinary history.

Foodies will enjoy this tour of Chicago that focuses on one of the city’s most popular dishes: pizza. Although your guide can’t tell you once and for all whether Chicago or New York has the best pizza in the USA, they will teach you about Chicago’s ten different types of pizza, let you sample four, and give you exclusive access to pizza kitchens. A fun tour for all pizza lovers.

Book in advance to take this popular tour that details the mob history of Chicago during the Prohibition Era (1920s-1930s). Learn about the exploits of gangsters like Capone, Dillinger, Moran, and others as you travel by minibus to sites like the Biograph Theater, Holy Name Cathedral, and St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Your guide adopts gangster attire and characteristics that add dramatic flair to the historical commentary.

Discover Chicago's bold character through its beautiful landmarks and fascinating backstories on this thoughtfully designed tour of history, contemporary life and world-famous architecture. Guests will see iconic downtown buildings, hear lesser-known stories from the past, and step inside gorgeous interior spaces.

See Chicago the way you want to see it. This private tour is fully customizable to your specifications. Whether you are interested in the architecture and history, the art, the cool neighborhoods, or peaceful parks and happening beaches, this tour will cater to your tastes. Work with a guide to discover Chicago your way.

Experience a colorful side of Chicago history with this Gangsters and Ghosts Tour. With a historian as your guide, you’ll step back to the roaring 20’s, when the Chicago Loop was a hub for bootleggers, speakeasies, and gangsters like the infamous Al Capone. Visit onetime gangster hangouts and haunted sites like the Palmer House, Congress Hotel, and Death Alley.

Chicago’s mob history has long been immortalized in popular media. Embark on this Chicago Gangster Tour to learn the true story. With an expert historian as your guide, you’ll visit notorious hangouts of John Dillinger, The Untouchables, and the legendary Al Capone. You’ll stop at former speakeasies, historic hotels, and epic crime sites like that of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre.

Discover spooky stories in the Windy City on a private haunted history tour. Visit places with names such as the Murder Castle and Death Alley, and hear about Al Capone and the Old Congress Hotel. See all three locations on one tour that reveals fascinating details about historical events, and rumors of murder and mayhem in Chicago.

Travel back in time to the 1920s, when Chicago was a prohibition era hub for lively speakeasies. Your guide, a local historian in period dress, will lead you through secret entrances to speakeasies once frequented by bank robbers and Chicago gangsters like Al Capone. Order prohibition era cocktails (additional cost) and listen to stories about bootlegging and racketeering in 1920s Chicago. Guests are welcome to come in period dress.

Discover the ‘dark side’ of the Windy City thanks to this 2.5-hour, bus-based, nighttime crime history tour of Chicago. Explore the lives of notorious mobsters like Al Capone, Frank Nitti, Bugs Moran, and more as you explore infamous crime scenes like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, learn about ‘The Enforcer’s Safe,’ and stop by local watering holes.

Explore Chicago's gangster past on this mafia tour in a coach vehicle. Drive around the Windy City to see where Al Capone, The Untouchables, Hymie Weiss, and John Dillinger, among other thugs hung out. A history-savvy guide introduces you to some of the most storied locations of Chicago’s criminal past, including Holy Name Cathedral, Biography Theatre, and the site of the bloody St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. You'll be able to get out and pose for pictures in front of a historic courthouse, among other infamous sites.

An excellent choice for first-time visitors, this tour provides a comprehensive overview of the city and hits on both classic attractions and little-known sites. Beginning at the Chicago Theatre, work your way to the Chicago Pedway, an elaborate network of underground tunnels used by locals and commuters. Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk and the Magnificent Mile, then embark on a food tour to taste some of the city’s famous foods.

Get to know the food offerings in River North on this small-group walking tour. As you explore, listen to in-depth commentary from your guide on the culinary history of Chicago and the culture of the River North neighborhood. With a small group of just 12 fellow food-lovers, you'll enjoy personalized attention and the chance to chat about your favorite tastings. Samples include the classic Italian beef, a Chicago-style hot dog, and the famous deep dish pizza.

Experience Chicago like never before on this small-group Segway tour. Visit Chicago’s ‘front yard,’ the beautiful lakefront and 57-acre Museum Campus. Glide along the fragrant floral paths to famous Buckingham Fountain. Then travel along the banks of Lake Michigan, past Monroe Harbor to the Museum Campus for a breathtaking view of the city’s iconic skyline. Guided Segway training plus the use of a helmet are included. Dress in weather-appropriate clothes with flat, closed-toed shoes.

There's no better way to tour the world-class city of Chicago than on a Segway! On your very own private tour, we will cruise around the parks and along Michigan avenue and show you the best that Chicago has to offer. If you are passionate about history, architecture, hauntings, Al Capone, and gangster or more, just let us know! We will customize the tour to fit your interests!

Explore Chicago by Segway with the benefit of a scenic 7- or 8-mile tour led by your guide. Start with an orientation to operating the Segway and a few minutes to practice. Then roll through the paths of Grant Park to Buckingham Fountain and glide along the Chicago lakefront to view attractions such as Museum Campus, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, and Soldier Field, homefield for the Chicago Bears.

This is a tour like no other! Our newest Segway adventure is completely unique and will cover the good, the bad, the ugly and the totally weird stories of Chicago. We will travel back through the ages as you discover the city through the lens of the Chicago Syndicate, hear the whispers of the city’s elite (or politicians), and be entertained by stories that are rarely told. You’ll think “No, really I never would have known!” Glide around Millennium Park, through the new neighborhood of Lakeshore East, and along the Lakefront as we unveil Chicago’s forgotten past in two hours! Your imagination will come alive as you hear stories of the Chicago Mob, the truth behind the 1968 Democratic National Convention, innovations that changed history, and so much more!