Gold Coast Walking Tour

Join Chicago for Chicagoans for a walking tour of the Gold Coast covering neighborhood history, architecture, and current developments.

REGISTRATION AVAILABLE BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 26TH

Join Chicago for Chicagoans for 2-hour walk through the glamourous Gold Coast neighborhood, led by mansion enthusiast Charlie Ocasek and Playboy historian Olivia Sobieraj!

Beginning at Holy Name Cathedral, the tour will cover the history, architecture, and landmarks of Chicago's most illustrious enclave for the wealthy elite. Discover how this storied community sprung up from the ashes of the Great Fire, becoming home to famous soapbox debates, powerful Chicagoans, and ornate homes by the likes of John Welbourn Root and Frank Lloyd Wright. As time went on, the area also saw the rise and fall of Playboy Magazine, whose evolution, successes, scandals, and architecture have long been tied to the broader history of the neighborhood it once called home. The afternoon will end at Butch McGuire's, where attendees are encouraged to grab a quick drink with their fellow tour-takers.

​Chicago for Chicagoans happily exists as a "pay-what-you-can" tour service. A suggested tip of $10-20 per person is always appreciated, but reviewing us on Yelp, liking us on Facebook, spreading the word, and attending future tours tells us how much you love us too! We are a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit that creates inclusive walking tours by & for Chicago residents, designed to represent the histories of all Chicagoans. Donate online fee-free at chicagoforchicagoans.org.

To view our tour route maps, click here! Please note: routes are subject to change at any time.