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Chicago Architecture Center Tickets

4.5(2,112)

Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.

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How to visit the Chicago Architecture Center

  • Ways to explore: Choose a self-guided exhibits-only tour at the museum or combine your museum visit with a walking tour of downtown Chicago.
  • What’s included: All options give access to two floors of immersive exhibits inside the Chicago Architecture Center.
  • Guided upgrades: Walking tours add live storytelling from certified guides as you explore real skyline icons. 
  • Topics you choose: Pick must-see landmarks or the architectural evolution of the cityscape, depending on your interests.
  • Timing: Exhibits are flexible; tours run on fixed schedules, for a duration of 90 minutes each.
  • Good to know: Tours operate outdoors — dress for the weather. CAC admission is included with tour tickets; the validity of seven days from the tour date.

Compare your ticket options

Ticket typeChicago Architecture CenterFocusGuideDurationBest forBook now

General admission

✓

Temporary and permanent exhibits on display

✗

Flexible; stay for as long as you like

Self-paced visit

Chicago Architecture Center Exhibit Admission

Walking tour

✓

The evolution of Chicago’s architecture narrated chronologically through history; a narrative-driven tour

✓

90 minutes

Short on time; want highlights fast with expert commentary

Architecture Center Admission with Walk Through Time Tour

Walking tour

✓

“Greatest hits” of Chicago’s urban landmarks; fast-moving with wide coverage

✓

90 minutes

Architecture/history lovers who want context

Architecture Center Admission with Must-See Chicago Walking Tour

Things to know before booking your Chicago Architecture Center tickets

  • The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) displays temporary and permanent exhibitions on rotation. Your Chicago Architecture Center Exhibit Admission grants you access to all exhibits.
  • Entry to the museum is free for children ages 5 and under.
  • Walking tours are a great way to understand why Chicago is called the City of Architecture.
    • The Walk Through Time tour focuses on the evolution of the city’s architecture, and Must-See Chicago covers all the highlights of downtown.
    • Both tours are led by CAC-certified English-speaking guides.
  • The CAC and Walk Through Time tours are wheelchair accessible; Must-see Chicago is not.

Explore the Chicago Architecture Center

Chicago City Model Experience

Type: Permanent
Access: Included with general admission tickets

A sweeping scale model of downtown Chicago featuring 4,000+ buildings, animated with a short film and interactive touchscreens that let you search by architect, building, or era.

The Legacy of Wrigley Field (Neighborhood Gallery)

Type: Permanent
Access: Included with general admission tickets

A compact, rotating neighborhood gallery that traces Wrigley Field’s architectural history from 1914; it includes original artifacts, photos, and models to explain renovations and the ballpark’s landmark status.

Framed Views 2025

Type: Temporary (November 2025–February 2026)
Access: Included with general admission tickets

Sixty curated photographs handpicked from a 1200-submission across five categories–Interior, Black & White, Exterior, People & Buildings, and Detail, including the best photographs from the 2024 Open House Chicago photo-competition. It showcases a variety of architectural perspectives on Chicago’s skyline, neighborhoods, and hidden gems.

The Disappointed Tourist

Type: Temporary (September 29, 2025–April 19, 2026)
Access: Included with general admission tickets

A selection of nearly 300 paintings by artist Ellen Harvey, imagining lost or vanished places nominated by the public. Each painting is reminiscent of “postcards” of buildings and sites no longer around, exploring nostalgia and urban memory.

Chicago Gallery (Main Floor Rotating Gallery)

Type: Permanent
Access: Included with general admission tickets

The heart of CAC’s exhibition space, home to the gallery’s rotating shows, including the City Model Experience, neighborhood-focused exhibits, and current special installations.

CAC Design Store

A curated shop of architecture books, skyline models, puzzles, and locally made gifts. Open to the public (no admission required to browse the store).

Ongoing events and programs

Girls Build!

Access: Free with online registration
Dates: October 26–December 14, on every Sunday

A hands-on STEAM program for girl-identifying youth (grades 6–8 or 6–12, depending on session). Participants explore Chicago’s built environment through design challenges, model-building, field trips, and interactions with women working in architecture, engineering, and construction professions. Features group projects, creative exercises, and a final showcase.

Book Talk: The UPTOWN

Access: Ticketed; not included with general admission tickets
Date: December 8, 2025

As part of CAC’s lecture/talk series for the general public, this event presents a fully illustrated look at the historic theater, which opened 100 years ago and has remained vacant for over 40 years. The authors share insights into the building’s past and potential future within its neighbourhood, followed by a post-talk book signing (available for purchase at the CAC Design Store).

Family Days

Access: Free with online registration
Date: January 10, 2026

Register for family-friendly events held periodically in CAC’s galleries and classroom spaces. Kids (typically with a parent or guardian) participate in hands-on architecture and design activities—from mask-making inspired by buildings to creative projects tied to exhibitions.

Plan your visit

  • Sunday–Thursday from 10am–5pm
  • Friday–Saturday from 10am–7pm
  • Closed on: Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
  • Early closure at 3pm on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve
  • Last entry: One hour before closing time
  • Best time to visit: Arrive between 10am and noon, when the center opens; you’ll have ample time to explore the galleries before heading out on a tour.

Located at the heart of downtown Chicago, where Michigan Avenue meets the Chicago River, inside the One Illinois Center, a Mies van der Rohe–designed skyscraper.
Address: 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 | Find on Maps

How to get there

  • By train: Lines Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple at State/Lake stations (8-minute walk); Lines Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple at Washington/Wells stations (10-minute walk)
    Nearest Metra station: Ogilvie Transportation Center (10-minute walk)

  • By bus: Routes #29 State, #36 Broadway, #65 Grand, and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express; multiple stops within 2–5 minutes walking distance
  • By car: Street parking is limited; metered parking is available nearby, starting at $4–$7 per hour.
  • Rideshare pick-up/drop-off available on E. Whacker Drive (1-minute walk to the entrance)

Main entrance

The primary entry for all visitors is on E. Wacker Drive at the base of the One Illinois Center. This entrance serves the general public, families, and groups arriving for exhibitions or programs.

Accessibility

The same main entrance is fully accessible; staff are on hand to assist visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. The center has an elevator to access the upper floors.

Ticket redemption

Present your online ticket at the front desk for redemption. Once done, scan the QR code at the turnstiles for entry.

Security check

All visitors and bags are subject to security screening before entry. Backpacks, large bags, and certain items may need to be inspected. Standard rules apply for strollers, camera equipment, and personal items.

  • Restrooms: Available throughout the center, including a large family/gender-neutral restroom.
  • Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the center; it is publicly listed and can be accessed upon arrival.
  • Gift shop: Located inside the center, it sells architecture and Chicago-themed books, decor, gifts, souvenirs, and apparel.
  • Wheelchair accessible: The center is wheelchair accessible with an elevator servicing the upper floors.
  • Visual/hearing impairment support: Sign-language interpretation is available upon request.
  • Service animals: They are permitted throughout the center.
  • Large bags, luggage, folding bikes, skateboards, and other bulky items are not allowed; storage space/lockers are unavailable at the center.
  • Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside exhibit areas.
  • Photography and videography for personal, non-commercial use are permitted. Some exhibitions may restrict flash, tripods, and professional equipment—be mindful of the signage.
  • Maintain a respectful decorum—refrain from touching displays, artworks, or models, and keep noise to a minimum.

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Architecture Center tickets

Is my Chicago Architecture Center ticket timed?

No. Exhibits-only admission is untimed, so you can arrive and explore at your own pace within operating hours.

Can I visit the exhibits at the Chicago Architecture Center free of charge?

No. Entry to the exhibit floors requires a paid admission ticket (or any CAC-guided walking tour ticket, which includes admission).

What is the best way to experience Chicago’s architecture?

Start inside the CAC to grasp Chicago’s architectural evolution, then step outside on a guided walking tour to see how those ideas shaped the skyline.

Is there a guided tour of the Chicago Architecture Center?

The exhibits are self-guided. Guided experiences are offered outdoors through CAC walking tours of Chicago’s architecture.

Is a walking tour of downtown Chicago worth it?

Yes. The walking tour is led by certified, English-speaking guides who’ll either take you through the architectural evolution of Chicago or the must-see landmarks (depending on your ticket choice). Both are the most context-rich ways to understand the city’s design.

What is the best way to experience the architecture of Chicago?

Start inside the CAC to grasp Chicago’s architectural evolution, then step outside on a guided walking tour to see how those ideas shaped the skyline.