Chicago, IL—Chicago's First Lady Cruises and its partner, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, opens its 21st season of the critically acclaimed Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise, Saturday, April 5, with an invitation for IPW 2014 participants to embark the luxurious cruise vessels for a most unique way to experience, and photograph, world-famous architecture in the birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago. 

Named in 2012 the “#1 Thing to Do in Chicago” by U.S. News and World Report, the Official Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises, with commentary by a CAF-certified river docent, provides panoramic views as it highlights more than 50 historic and architecturally significant sites and 24 of Chicago's unique moveable bridges and bridge houses that traverse the Chicago River.

Chicago is home to some of the world's tallest buildings including: the 108-story Willis Tower (442 m), tallest in the Western Hemisphere, allowing visitors to stand at the highest point in any building in the U.S. at 1,353 feet on The Ledge; the Trump International Hotel and Tower (423 m); the Aon Center (346m); and the 100-story John Hancock Building (344m), Chicago's first entry into the pantheon of tall buildings.

Beyond tall, though, Chicago is world famous for the vast number of impressive buildings representing more than a century of visionary design by leading architects of their time. Among the many architecturally significant buildings seen on the river cruise are: the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Marina City, Merchandise Mart, Civic Opera Building and one of the newest showpieces, Aqua (“skyscraper of the year” – Emporis, 2009) with its undulating wave balconies and notable for being the tallest building in the world designed by an architectural firm headed by a woman, Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects. Chicago-based architect, Adrian Smith of Smith + Gill has the current crown for having designedexisting tall buildings including the current world champion, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and will be on the job to design the tallest planned building, the Kingdom Tower in Jiddah Saudi Arabia – one kilometer tall. 

The 90 CAF-certified volunteer river docents blend specific building information with city history to create the foundation of their individual custom commentaries. Leading more than 2,000 cruises during the eight-month season, they come from a variety of professions including architecture, design, education, law and medicine. These dedicated “ambassadors” receive hundreds of hours of training consisting of classroom lectures, learning activities and assignments which they use to develop their own commentaries, providing a unique experience for each cruise guest. This cadre of passionate docents, many of whom are 10-year-plus expert volunteers, combines enthusiasm, solid training and their own experiences to infuse each presentation with wit and fascinating details to present a striking showcase of Chicago's iconic buildings.

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises

Panoramic 360-degree views and unparalleled photographic opportunities of all buildings are part of the open-air experience on the comfortable upper deck of the elegant custom-designed Chicago's First Lady Cruise vessels, reminiscent of the 1920s-style cruising yachts such as the U.S. Presidential yacht, “Sequoia.” There is also a luxurious, carpeted temperature-controlled main interior salon complete with a full-service bar serving America's most popular, and locally Chicago- brewed, beers, California wines, spirits and Coca-Cola products . Large, oblong windows surround the mahogany-toned and brass-appointed salon. Restrooms are lined in marble and granite.

Chicago's First Lady's fleet includes,  Chicago's First Lady, Chicago's Fair Lady, Chicago's Leading Lady and Chicago's ClassicLady and all depart daily from the lushly landscaped Riverside Gardens, just three blocks north of Millennium Park, at the lower level and southeast corner of the Michigan Ave. Bridge and Wacker Dr. on Chicago's Riverwalk.

Hourly cruise departures are from 10am to 5pm, beginning April 5 through November 23, with additional departures on weekends. For a complete schedule, visit: www.cruisechicago.com/architecture_tours. Individual tickets are $37.85 per person plus city tax and can be purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com/rivercruise; by phone, 800-982-2787(for calls within the U.S.); 001-949-333-4001(international calls); at the Chicago's First Lady dock (on Riverwalk at Michigan Ave. & Wacker Dr.) or at the CAF Shop and Tour Center (224 S. Michigan Ave.). For groups of 10 or more please contact the Group Tour Sales Department at 312-322-1131 or via email: grouptours@architecture.org. For more information, visit www.cruisechicago.com or www.architecture.org.

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About Chicago's First Lady Cruises

Chicago's First Lady Cruisesis the first name in Chicago cruises. Comprised of six luxury vessels accommodating groups of 2 - 250, Chicago's finest fleet has been the official partner of the Chicago Architecture Foundation since 1993, providing the vessels and crew for more than 2,000 tours annually. The fleet is anchored by the newest vessel Chicago's Classic Lady, a 98-foot (30m)steel vessel built on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, USA. As longtime stewards of Chicago's waterways, Chicago's First Lady Cruises continues to embrace a carbon neutral commitment to support renewable energy and reforestation beginning with green initiatives for its fleet of custom-designed luxury yachts, all operated with B-11 biodiesel fuel.  Each year the family-owned company recycles hundreds of gallons and pounds of industrial and commercial products.  All restrooms are equipped with low-flush toilets and metered faucets to conserve water on a daily basis. Its leafy park-like Riverside Gardens dock welcomes passengers and public for a stroll along the Riverwalk, landscaped with native plants. All are available for private charter cruising each evening. For more information, visit www.cruisechicago.com or call 001-847-358-1330

Engage with us socially: Facebook.com/CruiseChicago, Twitter.com/CFLcruises, Pinterest.com/CFLcruises, Instagram.com/CFLcruises.

About Chicago Architecture Foundation

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspire people to discover why design matters. The CAF pursues this mission through architecture tours, exhibitions, panel discussions and youth and adult education programs. A permanent exhibition, Chicago Model City, includes a highly detailed scale model of Chicago. CAF is located at 224 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604. For further information, visit www.architecture.org or call 001-312-922-3432 or become a Facebook fan: www.facebook.com/chiarchitecture or follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chiarchitecture or follow on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/chiarchitecture or Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-architecture-foundation.

Chicago's First Lady Cruises |112 E. Wacker Dr.|  On Chicago's Riverwalk | Chicago | USA | Cruisechicago.com | Architecture.org