Whether you are a longtime resident of Chicago or just passing through the Windy City, one of the best ways you can truly understand and appreciate this bustling metropolis is to take a boat tour. A variety of companies offer Chicago boat tours–including private tours–with a multitude of different landmarks as part of their itinerary. Chicago boasts some of the greatest examples of modern American architecture in the country, and the river itself contains a rich history.

On a boat tour, it is likely that you will see many of the famous buildings that stand along the Chicago River. The Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Navy Pier, Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago Spire, Marina City, Leo Burnett Building, 333 Wacker Drive, Merchandise Mart, and Waterview Tower all line the main branch of the river. On the south branch are the Boeing Company World Headquarters, Union Station, Civic Opera House, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Famous buildings like these, as well as other edifices designed by renowned architects such as Helmut Jahn, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, and Mies van der Rohe, provide awe-inspiring lessons about architectural development and history. And let’s not forget the impressive bridges that crisscross the river, allowing for busy commerce to continue and thrive.

The river itself contains other lessons and stories–about the early settlers of the area, the reversal of the river’s flow to preserve the purity of Lake Michigan, the Eastland disaster, the Chicago flood, the Chicago fire, and even the traditions of St. Patrick’s Day.

Chicago tours by boat make the history of the city come alive and are a great activity for anyone, resident and tourist alike.

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