Prohibition Chicago: Myth vs. Reality Walking Tour

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5.0

Prohibition Chicago: Myth vs. Reality Walking Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Prohibition Chicago: Myth vs. Reality Walking Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

More than 100 years later, stories of Prohibition-era Chicago still capture the public’s imagination. But the portrayal of that era in popular culture isn't always accurate.

On this tour, you’ll hear how the culture in turn-of-the-century Chicago helped bring about the 18th Amendment through stories of notorious vice districts along the Chicago River and the South Loop. We'll talk about the rise of Al Capone during the infamous “Beer Wars,” culminating in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Along the way, we’ll talk about how the city played a role in the popular and artistic growth of jazz, and how Chicago during the Roaring Twenties has been depicted on screen, in blockbusters such as "The Untouchables" and "Chicago."

Please be advised that this tour contains stories of murder and sex work. Although children are welcome on this tour, parents should use their discretion in determining whether it is suitable for those under 15.

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At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Chicago History Walking Tours

Ages: Children (0–13 years) · Adults (14–85 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Entrance fees: Entrance fee

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Bottled water

Itinerary

Chicago Riverwalk

30 min

As we stroll the Riverwalk (or Wacker Dr., depending on crowds), we'll discuss the rise of vice districts and organized crime in Chicago, and how the city played a role in the fight to ratify the 19th Amendment, which ushered in the Prohibition Era.
Stop 2

10 min

Now a restaurant named after a beloved sportscaster, Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse was where Frank Nitti, Al Capone's bodyguard and successor as head of the Chicago Outfit, lived for a while. We'll talk about how he's been portrayed in the movies hasn't always been accurate.
Stop 3

5 min

After crossing back into the Loop, we'll talk about the role Chicago played in the popular and artistic growth of jazz during the Roaring Twenties. We'll stop at the site of a now-demolished place where Capone and jazz intersected.
The Chicago Theatre

10 min

The Chicago Theatre was built in 1921 and its marquee is an icon of the city and featured in dozens of movies and TV shows set in the city. We'll talk about women that inspired the hit musical "Chicago" and its many iterations.
Palmer House Hilton Historic Lobby

15 min

A hotel whose history dates back to 1870, the Palmer House was renovated and expanded in the mid-1920s and remains an example of that era's wealth and elegance.
Chicago Cultural Center

15 min

Opened in 1897 as the city's first public library, the Chicago Cultural Center was used in two crucial scenes in "The Untouchables."

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

We'll meet in the plaza on Michigan Ave. between the Tribune Tower and the Apple Store. We'll talk about the first non-Indigenous people to come through the region and how it led to the birth and growth of Chicago.