Atlas Obscura presents a very special twist on Chicago's beloved architecture boat tours, revealing the unknown tales hidden inside the city's most famous landmarks and locations. You'll join Atlas Obscura aboard the Summer of George for an introduction to Chicago's architecture and stories of the Windy City that you won't find on any other boat tour.
Over the course of this (roughly) 90-minute cruise, Field Agent and historian Adam Selzer will share curious and hidden tales of urban architecture as you weave through the waterways overlooking Chicago’s incomparable skyline and lakefront. Besides the basics of art deco, neo-classicalism, and "what to look for when you're looking at architecture,” you’ll also hear about unsolved mysteries, hidden passages, criminal activity, urban legends, and more! Refreshments will be available onboard.
The Summer of George is a yacht that departs from Bertrand Goldberg’s River City Marina (900 S Wells). It features seating with spectacular views on the top deck and a fully functioning cash bar with drinks and snacks on the lower deck.
Adam Selzer has been an historian and tour guide in the city for more than a decade, with more than 2,000 ghost tours and several hundred architectural boat tours to his credit. He is the author of Mysterious Chicago, H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil, The Ghosts of Chicago, and several more critically acclaimed books, along with an upcoming authorized "who's who" book on Graceland Cemetery. He has appeared in several several documentaries and TV shows, such as Scary Stories, American Ripper, Mysteries at the Museum and Monumental Mysteries, and his research has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Washington Post, and more. His tours are utterly hilarious, ridiculously informative, and endlessly fascinating.
Arrive by 7:30 p.m. for boarding; the boat leaves promptly at 8 p.m. and cannot wait for latecomers.
The event will run rain or shine (or fog or shine!).
Upstairs outdoor seating and indoor temperature controlled seating is available.
The Harrison Red Line stop is about a 10-minute walk away from the marina; you can also find the #22 Clark Street bus stop at Clark and Polk streets not far away. Parking is available for about $8-10 in the lot next to the River City Marina with the ParkMobile app (zone 5811) or with cash. With credit cards, you can park in the River City garage. Street parking is fairly easy to find nearby, as well. Check SpotHero for other nearby lots! Please note that the parking lot and dock can be difficult terrain for wheelchairs, and there are some stairs to get onto the ship.
Questions? Email Adam Selzer at adam.selzer@atlasobscura.com.
There are 157 spots available on this experience.
Accessibility is limited; the boat can accept strollers/wheelchairs but there are a few steps to board/disembark the boat and upstairs seating/below deck restrooms are only accessible via stairs.
