"This museum's devotion to a three-dimensional experience is impressive. Beside the front door, a two-story scale model of the Jeddah Tower points to the centerpiece Skyscraper Gallery, filled with models of iconic tall buildings around the world, from New York's Chrysler Building to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. And in the Chicago Gallery, more than 4,000 mini buildings represent the modern city, used as a backdrop for a sound and light show that illustrates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and its subsequent expansion. The CAC's bread and butter is its 85 architectural tours, which can be done by foot, boat, bus, or train. The architectural boat tours depart from a dock across the street. The walking tours, that leave directly from the center, offer an introduction to downtown development, but even better are the neighborhood walking tours in Hyde Park and Kenwood. All tours require a separate fee from the admission price. Due to COVID-19, the museum is temporarily closed and set to open May 1, 2021. Some walking tours have resumed." - Elaine Glusac
