The document provides an overview of attractions, activities, and places of interest in Chicago, highlighting the city's cultural institutions, historical sites, museums, theaters, art galleries, restaurants, parks, and methods of transportation. It includes brief descriptions and key details about notable landmarks, neighborhoods, and cultural offerings like architecture, the arts, sports, shopping, and more. The guide aims to help visitors take advantage of all the activities and attractions Chicago has to offer.

1. Chicago
Chicago Hospitality Guide

2. T
Table Of Contents
Welcome 3
Getting Around Town 4
Affordable Chicago 5
Chicago Landmarks 6
Architecture & Public Art 7
Cultural & Historical 8
Music 9
Science & Nature 10
Shopping 11
Sports 12
Theater 13
Visual Arts 14
CHF Staff Picks 15
2 Chicago Humanities Festival

3. Welcome003E
500N
Welcome to the Chicago Humanities Festival, and welcome
to the magnificent city of Chicago! Chicago is the third
largest city in the United States, with a population of nearly
three million people. Its scenic lakeside location, world-class
cultural offerings and unique architecture are just some of the
reasons why Chicago is a great place to be.
There’s no better way to explore Chicago than by taking
advantage of the multitude of attractions, events, tours, and
recreational activities happening throughout the city, every
single day.
To help you take advantage of all that the “Windy City” has to
offer, this booklet highlights many of Chicago’s most notable
artistic, cultural, and historical landmarks and institutions.
In Chicago, you’re sure to find attractions that match your
interests, and even develop some new ones along the way.
Thank you for participating in the Festival, and enjoy your
time in our great city!
Programming Team
Chicago Humanities Festival
Chicago is home to:
• 237 square miles of land
• An estimated
2,896,016 residents
• Dozens of cultural
institutions, historical
sites and museums
• More than 200 theaters
• Nearly 200 art galleries
• More than 7,300 restaurants
• 77 community areas
containing more than
100 neighborhoods
• 26 miles of lakefront
• 15 miles of bathing beaches
• 36 annual parades
• 19 miles of lakefront
bicycle paths
• 552 parks
Chicago Humanities Festival 3

4. Getting Around004E
500N
Chicago is a very walkable city with also public and private
transportation options to get you where you want to go.
Walking
Like many urban areas, Chicago is set to a grid system which makes it
easy to get around. Madison Street divides the City of Chicago north
and south, while State Street divides it east and west. As your walking,
you’ll notice that most street signs include a location relating to their
intersection. Block numbers are consistent across the whole city. For
example, Addison street is at 3600 North, or 36 blocks north of Madison.
Go For a Ride
Helpful The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is Chicago’s
easy-to-use bus and elevated train lines
travel tips:
100
• Standard blocks, of
(the famous“L”) can take you around town to the
addresses each, are cities major attractions. Maps of the CTA are
roughly 1/8th of a located at each bus and train stop. You can event
mile long.
download a mobile app (CTA Tracker for iPhone,
• East is almost always
towards Lake Michigan.
Chicago Transit Tracker for Android) to help you find
the nearest station and plan your route.
Warm Weather Traveling
Water Taxis provide seasonal ferry service on the
Visit:
Chicago River, offering a convenient and uniquely • chicagowatertaxi.com
scenic way of getting around downtown • shorelinewatertaxi.com
Chicago and surrounding areas.
Biking is a fun and healthy way to visit the Windy City – not
to mention the schedule is completely your own! Chicago is
one of the nation’s most bicycle-friendly cities, with more than
100 miles of bike lanes, 50 miles of bike paths and 10,000
bike racks, more than any other city in the United States.
Bike rentals and • Millenium Park • DuSable Museum of
• Navy Pier African American History
tours are available
• The Riverwalk • Oak Street Beach
at the following • North Avenue Beach • Ohio Street Beach
locations: • Museum Campus • Foster Beach
To learn more about bike rentals and tours: visit: http://www.bikechicago.com
4 Chicago Humanities Festival

5. Affordable Chicago005E
500N
Free Chicago Activities
Free By Day Free Every Day
• Chicago Architecture Foundation
Chicago History
Monday Museum • Archicenter/CitySpace Gallery
• Chicago Botanic Garden
LUMA:
• Chicago Cultural Center
Loyola University • Chicago Fed Money Museum
Museum of Art (Monday-Friday)
International Museum • Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Tuesday of Surgical Science (Monday-Friday)
Swedish American
• Chicago Water Works
Museum
(Second Tuesdays) • City Gallery at Historic Water
Tower
• DePaul University Art Museum
Café Society
Clarke House
• Gallery 37 for the Arts
Museum • Garfield Park Conservatory
Glessner House • Harold Washington Library Center
Wednesday Museum • Hyde Park Art Center
Charnley Persky • Intuit: The Center for Intuitive &
House Museum
Outsider Art
• Jane Addams Hull House
The Peggy Notebaert • Lincoln Park Zoo
Nature Museum • Millennium Park
Thursday Chicago Children’s
• Museum of Contemporary
Museum (5-8pm)
Photography
• National Museum of Mexican Art
Lizzadro Museum of
Lapidary Art
• Navy Pier Daily Shows
Fine Arts Building • The Newberry Library
Friday Open Studios • The Oriental Institute
(Second Fridays) • The Pritzker Military Library
• The Renaissance Society at the
Chicago Children’s University of Chicago
Museum • Smart Museum of Art
(First Sundays) • Smith Museum of Stained Glass
DuSable Museum of • Southside Community Art Center
Sunday African American
History
Maxwell Street
Market
Chicago Humanities Festival 5

6. Chicago Landmarks006E
500N
E
FRE
Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain
Neighborhood: The Loop
E Columbus Drive & Congress Parkway
312-742-7529.
Considered to be Chicago’s “front door”, this landmark fountain,
buolt in a rococo wedding cake style, was inspired by the Lantona
Fountain at the Palace of Versailles.
Chicago Cultural Center, FREE Millennium Park, FREE
Neighborhood: The Loop Neighborhood: The Loop
78 E Washington Street Along Michigan Avenue, between
Phone: 312-744-6630 Randolph and Monroe
http://www.explorechicago.org 312-742-1168
This landmark building is home www.millenniumpark.org
to two magnificent stained- Hosting over 525 free events each
glass domes, as well as free year, Millennium Park is an award-
music, dance and theater winning 25 acre center for art,
events, films, lectures, art music, architecture, and
exhibitions and family events. landscape design.
John Hancock Center & Observatory Willis Tower Skydeck
$15 Adults (12+), $10 Youth (3-11), $15.95 Adults (12+), $11 Youth
Children free (under 3) (3-11), Children free (under 3)
Neighborhood: Neighborhood: South Loop
The Magnificent Mile 233 S. Wacker Drive
875 N. Michigan Avenue 877-759-3325
www.hancockobservatory.com www.theskydeck.com
Breathtaking 360° views stretching Formerly Sears Tower, this is the
across four states, stunning highest observatory in Chicago,
views of Lake Michigan, and a rising 1,353 feet above the street.
beautiful night cityscape await
you above the Magnificent Mile.
6 Chicago Humanities Festival

7. Architecture & Public Art007E
500N
Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 S. Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood: The Loop
312-922-3432
caf.architecture.org
The Chicago Architecture
Foundation offers tours,
exhibitions, lectures, special
events, and adult and youth
education activities, all designed
to enhance the public’s awareness
and appreciation of Chicago’s
outstanding architectural legacy.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio
Tickets range from $12-$25. Wendella Architecture Boat Tour
Please call for reservations. $26 adults, $24 seniors, $13 children
951 Chicago Avenue 400 North Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood: Oak Park Neighborhood: River North
312.994.4000 312-337-1446
www.gowright.org www.wendellaboats.com
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home Chicago’s architectural heritage
and Studio served as Wright’s is considered to be among the
private residence and workplace finest in the world, and the
from 1889 to 1909—the first Chicago River Architecture Tour
20 years of his career. provides the ultimate setting to
view these magnificent
structures.
Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House
5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
312.994.4000
www.gowright.org
The Robie House on the
University of Chicago campus
is considered one of the most
important buildings in the history
of American architecture.
Robie House
Chicago Humanities Festival 7

8. Cultural & Historical008E
500N
The Field Museum
$15 adults, $12 students & Jane Addams Hull
seniors, $10 children (3-11) House Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive FREE
Neighborhood: South Loop/ 800 S. Halsted Street
Museum Campus Neighborhood: West Loop
312-922-9410 www.hullhousemuseum.org
www.fieldmuseum.org 312-413-5353
Chicago History Museum National Museum of Mexican Art
$14 adults, $12 students, FREE
free for children 12 and 1852 W. 19th Street
under / FREE Mondays Neighborhood: Pilsen/
1601 N. Clark Street Little Village
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park 312-738-1503
www.chicagohs.org www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org
312.642.4600
Oriental Institute Museum
DuSable Museum of African FREE
American History 1155 East 58th Street
$10 adults, $7 students & seniors, Neighborhood: Hyde Park
$3 children 6-11 / FREE Sundays 773-702-9520
740 E. 56th Place oi.uchicago.edu/museum
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
www.dusablemuseum.org
773-947-0600
8 Chicago Humanities Festival

9. Music009E
500N
Buddy Guy’s Legends Old Town School of Folk Music
700 S. Wabash Ave 4544 N Lincoln Avenue AND
Neighborhood: South Loop 1519 W. Irving Park Road
312-427-1190 773-728-6000
www.buddyguys.com www.oldtownschool.org
Experience the finest blues The Old Town School of Folk
seven nights a week, enjoy Music teaches and celebrates
southern Cajun soul food, music and cultural expressions
and behold a major archive rooted in the traditions of diverse
of blues memorabilia. American and global communities.
Andy’s Jazz Club Chicago Symphony Orchestra
11 E Hubbard Street 220 S. Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood: Streeterville Neighborhood: The Loop
312-642-6805 312-294-3000
www.andysjazzclub.com www.cso.org
One of Chicago’s best-known The Chicago Symphony Orchestra
and most-respected Jazz is world famous and has over
establishments, historic Andy’s 200 performances each year.
offers casually sophisticated
dining with a musical menu of Kingston Mines
Chicago’s top Jazz Artists. Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
2548 North Halsted Street
773-477-4647
www.kingstonmines.com
Chicago’s premier blues bar,
Kingston Mines, is where
musicians congregate after their
own gigs to jam and socialize.
Blue Chicago
Cover charge $8 Sunday-Thursday,
$10 Friday-Saturday
536 N Clark Street
Neighborhood: River North
312-661-0100
www.bluechicago.com
Blue Chicago offers an authentic blues club
experience, featuring local Chicago blues bands
along with the best female blues voices in the city.
Chicago Humanities Festival 9

10. Science & Nature010E
500N
International Museum The Museum of Science
of Surgical Science and Industry
$10 adults, $6 students, $15 adults, $14 seniors,
seniors, military members, and $10 children
children / FREE Tuesdays 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
1524 N Lake Shore Dr Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Neighborhood: Gold Coast 773-684-1414
312-0642-6502 www.msichicago.org
www.imss.org
The Peggy Notebaert
Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Museum
FREE $9 adults, $7 students &
2001 N. Clark Street seniors, $6 children
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park 2430 N. Cannon Drive
312-742-2000 Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
www.lpzoo.org 773-755-5100
www.chias.org
Shedd Aquarium
$26.95 adults, $19.95 children
1200 South Lake Shore Drive Adler Planetarium
Neighborhood: South Loop/ $10 adults, $8 students,
Museum Campus $6 children
312-939-2438 1300 South Lake Shore Drive
www.sheddaquarium.org Neighborhood: South Loop/
Museum Campus
312-922 7827
www.adlerplanetarium.org
Adler Welcome Entry
10 Chicago Humanities Festival

11. Shopping011E
500N
Water Tower Place
835 North Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
312-440-3166
www.shopwatertower.com
Chicago’s Premier shopping
mall on N. Michigan Avenue.
Magnificent Mile
Michigan Avenue between
Illinois Street & Oak Street
Neighborhood: Near North and Gold Coast
www.themagnificentmile.com
In this mile-long stretch, 460
stores offer luxury items, beautiful
bargains, and everything
in-between. From department
store giants Neiman Marcus,
Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom
and Bloomingdale’s to hundreds
of specialty shops and boutiques
such as Crate & Barrel, the
Apple Store, the Disney Store,
American Girl Place, Niketown, Water Tower Place
Tiffany & Co. and Ralph Lauren.
Oak Street Boutiques
Oak Street, between Michigan State Street Shopping
Avenue & Clark Street State Street between Jackson
Blvd & Lake Street
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Neighborhood: The Loop
Apparel from Paris, Milan, Chicago
Chicago shopping began on State
and New York resides comfortably
Street, often called “That Great
on this international street lined
Street”. One of the city’s first major
with intimate buildings and shops.
retail outlets, Marshall Field’s
Prada, Kate Spade, Nicole Miller
State Street store (now Macy’s)
and Tory Burch, to name a few.
has been a Chicago icon and
world-class shopping destination
for more than 150 years.
Chicago Humanities Festival 11

12. Sports012E
500N
Wrigley Field
1060 West Addison The United Center
Neighborhood: Lakeview/Wrigleyville 1901 W. Madison Street
Neighborhood: United Center Park
(773) 404-2827
(312) 455-4500
www.cubs.com
www.unitedcenter.com
Wrigley Field, built in 1914 and
Home of the Chicago Bulls
the second-oldest ballpark
and Blackhawks, the United
in major league baseball,
Center is the largest arena in the
will play host to the Chicago
United States and has hosted
Cubs for the 95th year.
over twenty million guests
since its opening in 1994.
Soldier Field
U.S. Cellular Field
Tours: $15 adults, $10 student,
333 West 35th Street
$7 seniors $4 children
Neighborhood: Bridgeport
1410 S. Museum Campus Drive
312-674-1000
Neighborhood: The South Loop/
whitesox.mlb.com
Museum Campus
Home of the Chicago White Sox.
312-235-7000
www.soldierfield.net
12 Chicago Humanities Festival

13. Theater013E
500N
About Face Theatre Museum of Contemporary
Check website for performance locations Art, the MCA Stage
Neighborhood: Uptown
(773) 784-8565
220 E. Chicago Avenue
aboutfacetheatre.com
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Chicago-based company 312.397.4010 (Box Office)
that creates performances www.mcachicago.org
that examine and participate
in the development of Redmoon
Check website for performance locations
queer communities. Neighborhood: West Loop
312-850 – 8440
Cadillac Palace Theater www.redmoon.org
151 W. Randolph Founded in 1990, Redmoon
Neighborhood: The Loop/ Theater District
312-977-1700
works to promote a unique brand
www.broadwayinchicago.com
of performance, pulling with
Designed in 1926 by the conviction from contemporary art
legendary theater architects, forms and ancient theatrical forms.
the Rapp Brothers, the Cadillac
Palace Theater is celebrating Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 North Halsted Street
10 years of bringing the best Chicago, IL 60614
of Broadway to Chicago. Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(312) 335-1650
Lyric Opera House www.steppenwolf.org
20 N. Wacker Drive The Steppenwolf ensemble
Neighborhood: The Loop first began performing in the
312-332-2244
mid-1970s in the basement of
www.lyricopera.org
a Highland Park, IL church, the
Lyric Opera of Chicago, ambitious brainchild of three
founded in 1954, is renowned high school and college friends:
internationally for its artistic Jeff Perry, Terry Kinney and Gary
excellence and financial strength. Sinise. Fast forward some 35 years
and counting and the Steppenwolf
Theatre Company has become the
nation’s premier ensemble theater.
Day-of discounted theatre tickets can be found at www.hottix.org or in person at:
163 E. PEARSON, Chicago (At Michigan Avenue, in the Water Works Visitor Center)
Tuesday-Saturday 10a.m.-6p.m. Sunday 11a.m.-4p.m.
Chicago Humanities Festival 13

14. Visual Arts014E
500N
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Avenue
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
312.280.2660
www.mcachicago.org
Hyde Park Art Center
FREE
5020 S. Cornell Avenue
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
773-324-5520
www.hydeparkart.org
Museum of Contemporary
Photography
FREE
600 S. Michigan Avenue
Neighborhood: South Loop
312-663-5554
www.mocp.org
MCA Stairwell River North Gallery District
South of W. Chicago Avenue,
Art Institute of Chicago east of N. Orleans, and
$18 adults, $12 seniors, west of Lasalle Blvd.
students, and children (Brown Line, Chicago station)
111 South Michigan Avenue Neighborhood: Near North Side
Neighborhood: The Loop www.chicagogallerynews.com
312-443-3600 Host to the largest concentration
www.artic.edu of art galleries in the United
States outside of Manhattan.
City Gallery at Historic
Water Tower Smart Museum of Art
FREE University of Chicago
806 N. Michigan Avenue FREE
Neighborhood: Gold Coast 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue
312-744-2400 Neighborhood: Hyde Park
773-702-0200
smartmuseum.uchicago.edu
14 Chicago Humanities Festival

15. CHF Staff Picks015E
500N
“Head to the Music Box Theatre for independent and foreign films, and
an amazing old-school movie palace atmosphere.”
www.musicboxtheatre.com
- Mary Kate Barley-Jenkins, Director, Programming
“To me, no Chicago attraction beats the amazing Modern Wing of the
Art Institute. Its architecture (by Renzo Piano) and incredible collection,
always augmented by fascinating temporary shows, always lift my spir-
its. I also love the galleries in Chicago’s West Loop, like Rhona Hoffman
Gallery, Western Exhibitions, and Kavi Gupta Gallery, all of which show
some of the most cutting-edge work in the world.”
- Matti Bunzl, Artistic Director
“Visit the Visitors Center at the Cultural Center (77 E Randolph St) and
don’t forget to peek at the building’s Tiffany Dome. Then head south
along Michigan Avenue past Millennium Park (your trip to Chicago isn’t
complete until you’ve seen the Bean!) and end at the Art Institute of
Chicago. Say hello to its icons: “American Gothic,” “Nighthawks, and
“Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” (but make time to
see what other favorites you might meet along the way).”
-Rem Cabrera, Development Director, Institutional Giving
Chicago Humanities Festival 15

16. CHF Staff Picks016E
500N
“Go see the Neo Futurist’s
“Too Much Light Makes
the Baby Go Blind”. Their
signature show, which had
its first performance on
December 2, 1988, makes it
the longest-running show in
Chicago today.”
www.neofuturists.org
- Julia Mayer,
Senior Program Manager
Baha’i Temple in Wilmette, near Evanston
www.bahai.us/bahai-temple
Free, ecumenical, and open to all. A spectacularly
beautiful space for meditation.
Quimby’s Books at 1854 West North Avenue and
Myopic Books at 1564 North Milwaukee Avenue.
www.quimbys.com and www.myopicbookstore.com
Quimby’s specializes in comics and small-press books; Myopic
is an immersive used bookstore with a fantastic selection.
- Audrey Peiper, Director, Individual Giving
Chicago Humanities Festival
500 N Dearborn, Suite 825
Chicago, IL 60654
312-661-1028
info@chicagohumanities.org
www.chicagohumanities.org
The Chicago Humanities Festival’s mission is to create opportunities for
people of all ages to support, enjoy and explore the humanities. We fulfill
this mission through our annual festivals, the fall Chicago Humanities
Festival and the spring Stage, Sights & Sounds, and by presenting
programs throughout the year that encourage the study and enjoyment
of the humanities.
16 Chicago Humanities Festival