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Intro

Chicago's Gold Coast is one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods. With the shores of Lake Michigan on the east, this is one of the most expensive zip codes in all of Illinois. Nestled among these quiet, tree-lined streets you'll find elegant multi-million dollar brownstones, numerous historic mansions and some of the wealthiest families in Chicago. Welcome to Chicago's Gold Coast.

The Stories

But this area wasn't always so wealthy. Once upon a time, this was marshland used as burial grounds. The area began to change in 1882 after Potter Palmer, one of Chicago’s business legends, built a castle-like mansion on Lake Shore Drive. Thereafter, Chicago’s wealthy citizens transformed this area into the city’s most exclusive residential enclave.

By the 1980’s, the Gold Coast and neighboring Streeterville comprised the second most-affluent neighborhood in the USA behind Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Gold Coast district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Please join us to explore this historic neighborhood.

Meeting Point: We will meet in front of the Drake Hotel outside near the Lavazza coffee shop. The Drake Hotel is located 140 E. Walton Place, just east of Michigan Avenue. This tour will end at the Chicago History Museum

Duration: The tour will last about 2 hours from start to finish.

Cost: Free! Our guides work for tips and gratuities. Read about Tipping your Guide.

What you will see: 

• The Drake Hotel
• The Fortnightly House
• Lake Shore Drive Mansions
• The Playboy Mansion
• The hotel where the Beatles, Bette Davis, & Sammy Davis Jr. stayed
• Franky Lloyd Wright-designed home
• The former home of Abraham Lincoln's youngest son
• The house with 19 chimneys

Stories you will be told: 

• Palmer Potter helps transform the area
• The street named after a fur tycoon
• From Hugh Hefner to art students to condominiums - all under one roof
• The 4-story mansion (that was given as a wedding gift)
• Meet the man who constructed the first building after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871
• Servants in the Gold Coast
• The architect responsible for East Lake Shore Drive

More Free Chicago Walking Tours

We know you will love the Chicago Crime & Gangster tour, so why not plan ahead and book another tour? If your group is larger than 6 people contact us regarding a Private Chicago Walking Tour.