chicago river tour wendella

Chicago River Architecture Tour

Chicago's Original Architecture Tour®

Experience the city’s legendary architecture from the best seat in the house—the river. Our experienced tour guides detail the 130 year long history behind the skyline, while our bartenders and staff keep you comfortable and entertained. This comprehensive tour navigates through the heart of the city on all three branches of the Chicago River. It’s the one thing everyone tells you to do in Chicago, done right.

Schedule & Tickets

• Adult: $44.00
• Child (4-12): $20.00
• Under 4: Free (ticket required)

TICKETS ARE NON REFUNDABLE BUT ARE TRANSFERABLE.

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• COVID-19 Safety
• Boarding begins 15-30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time.
• All bags are subject to inspection.
• Prohibited Items: Outside Alcohol, Weapons of any kind (Firearms, Knives, etc.), Flammables, Explosives.

Your boat includes:

Drinks & Snacks

Full-service bar with wine, local beer, and craft cocktails, as well as an assortment of snacks, all for purchase. Pinkies up!

Expert Tour Guide

Never boring, always entertaining.

Accessibility

Everyone should be able to enjoy our tours. We make sure you can.

No need to hold it. We have changing tables for the little ones who don’t know what holding it is.

Climate-Controlled Lounge

Keeping you cool when it's warm and warm when it's cool (or freezing).

*Not all amenities are available on every vessel.

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Tours & Attractions , Architectural/Cultural Tours , Boat Tours , Special Interest Tours

Wendella tours & cruises.

Located in The Magnificent Mile

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400 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611

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• www.wendellaboats.com
• (312) 337-1446
• (312) 344-1190

As Chicago’s original architecture boat tour, Wendella has been dedicated to serving Chicago’s families, visitors, students, guests and commuters for over 75 years. Family owned and operated for three generations, our mission is to provide you and your family with a safe, comfortable and affordable fun day on the waterways. Our experienced staff and expert tour guides, trained by Wendella’s in-house Education Department, work hard to ensure that you capture the true essence of Chicago’s past, present and future every time you step on board one of our vessels. Wendella offers our signature 90 minute Combined Lake and River Tour; the 75 minute Chicago River Architecture tour; the 45 minute Chicago Experience and our Chicago at Sunset Cruise. We also offer many specialty cruises including Wine Tasting and Fireworks. Taking Metra downtown? Ride the Chicago Water Taxi to Michigan Ave. Visit www.chicagowatertaxi.com for more information.

Wheelchair Accessible

Complimentary Policy 2 per group of 20 or more

Average Visit/Tour Length 1.5 - 2 hours

Minimum Size for Group Admission Rate 20

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Student Group Friendly

Reservation Cancellation Policy All tickets are non-refundable but are transferable to another time, date, or tour.

Reservations Accepted

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Largest Room, Reception Capacity (Standing) 280

Largest Room, Banquet Capacity (Seated) 280

On-site Audio/Visual Equipment

Complete Buy-out Available

Max Capacity, Reception Style (Standing) 1120

Max Capacity, Banquet Style (Seated) 1120

Max Venue Capacity 1120

Private Meeting Space Available

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• About this activity

Wendella's 90-min Chicago River Architecture Tour

• Mobile voucher
• Instant confirmation
• Expert Tour Guide - Never boring, always entertaining
• Full Service Bar - Alcohol, soft drinks and snacks.
• Climate Controlled Cabin
• Restrooms with Changing Tables - no need to hold it!
• Guest Service is our passion.

Activity location

• 400 North Michigan Avenue
• 60611, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

Meeting/Redemption Point

Check availability.

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What's included, what's not.

• What's included What's included Guided Architecture Tour of the Chicago River
• What's excluded What's excluded Drinks and snacks are available for purchase.

Know before you book

• Children ages 3 years and younger are free.
• Full-service bar with wine, local beer, and craft cocktails, as well as an assortment of snacks, all for purchase. Pinkies up!
• Expert Tour Guide included
• Wendella is located at 400 N Michigan Avenue at the historic Wrigley Building. Wendella has four dock locations that extend west from the Michigan Avenue (DuSable) Bridge to Wabash Avenue

What you can expect

Experience the city’s legendary architecture from the best seat in the house—the river. Our experienced tour guides detail the 130 year long history behind the skyline, while our bartenders and staff keep you comfortable and entertained. This comprehensive tour navigates through the heart of the city on all three branches of the Chicago River, and lasts approximately 90 minutes. It’s the one thing everyone tells you to do in Chicago, done right.

Cleaning and safety practices

Enhanced cleanliness measures.

• Vehicles and venues cleaned with disinfectants
• High-touch surfaces cleaned and disinfected

Social distancing

• Contactless ticket redemption

Safety measures

• Hand sanitizer provided
• Individually wrapped food options available

Family | Travel | Adventures

A Review of Wendella’s Architecture Boat Tour in Chicago

• November 20, 2023
• Updated December 12, 2023
• In Illinois

Are you thinking about taking an architecture boat tour in Chicago?

If you ask anyone what to do when visiting Chicago, an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River is always highly recommended.

A boat tour is an easy way to see a large chunk of Chicago in a short amount of time. Plus, you get the added bonus of learning about Chicago’s history, like the Great Fire and the World’s Fair, and how it impacted Chicago’s landscape and skyline.

We took a boat tour with Wendella when we visited Chicago. We enjoyed the guide’s humor and her extensive knowledge about the city, buildings, and architects.

You have many options when it comes to Chicago River boat tours. However, we love that Wendella offers both 45 and 90-minute tours. And they are the only boat tour company that is open year-round!

The review below shares more about what to expect on a Chicago architecture tour with Wendella. Let’s dive in!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

What to Expect on a Chicago River Tour

A Chicago architecture boat tour is one of the best ways to learn about the city’s history while also seeing a large chunk of the city in a short amount of time. It’s a great option if you only have one day in Chicago . But we think it’s worth doing no matter how much time you spend in the Windy City!

On a Wendella boat tour , the guides narrate the tour, sharing funny jokes and interesting stories about famous landmarks like the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Tribune Tower , and the Wrigley Building .

The tour offers a fascinating look into the city’s evolution, from the Great Fire of 1871 that spurred innovative architectural rebirth to the groundbreaking designs that define Chicago’s skyline today.

Wendella Architecture Tour: A Review

Tour Options

Wendella offers several different tour options to suit your time constraints and interests.

Their  45-minute Chicago River Architecture Tour  provides a short yet comprehensive tour of the city’s skyline. It shares interesting facts about the various buildings along the Chicago River (and others nearby) while sharing information about the city’s history, including the World’s Fair and the Great Fire.

Wendella also offers two 90-minute tours.  The 90-minute   Chicago River Architecture Tour  is a more extended version of the 45-minute tour, giving guests a more comprehensive tour that navigates all three branches of the Chicago River. This is the most popular tour for good reason.

Wendella’s Lake and River Architecture Tour   is their original tour offering. It not only takes you on the Chicago River but also Lake Michigan. You’ll get to enjoy and learn about Chicago’s skyline as seen from the Chicago River. Then, you’ll go through the Chicago Lock and float out onto Lake Michigan for the best view of the city.

Prices for the Wendella Chicago Boat Tour

How much a Wendella architectural boat tour costs depends on the tour you take. These are the prices as of publication:

• The  45-minute archi t ecture tour  costs $12 for kids ages 4-12 and $27 for anyone 13 and up. Children under 4 are FREE but still require a ticket.
• Both  90-minute tours  cost $19 for kids ages 4-12 and $42 for anyone over 12. Children ages three and under are FREE, but still, you need to reserve them a ticket.

Amenities on Board a Wendella Boat Tour

Plenty of amenities are   available to you during your architectural river tour on Wendella.

Let’s get the most critical amenity out of the way first. Yes, there are  restrooms on board ! So, if you’re visiting Chicago with kids, you don’t have to worry about them needing to use the bathroom right after the boat leaves the dock.

If you get hungry or thirsty on board, there is a  full-service bar  serving soda, wine, local beer, and cocktails. They also have some  snacks  available for purchase.

Lastly, although we recommend sitting on the top deck for the best views of the city, the below deck is climate-controlled. So, if you’re visiting Chicago on a hot day or during the winter, you’ll be plenty comfortable on board.

Wendella Chicago River Tour Experience

You’ll have fun on a Wendella boat tour! Most people agree that the Wendella architecture tour is a  more relaxed experience  compared to other Chicago boat tours. The guides tell corny jokes (almost on par with the Jungle Cruise at Disney) while sharing exciting history and tidbits about the architecture in Chicago.

The  45-mi nute tour  will take you along the Chicago River, first heading west and south before turning around. You’ll get views of the buildings in the Loop, West Loop, and River North neighborhoods, as well as the Navy Pier.

Wendella’s  90-minute architecture tour  follows a similar route as the 45-minute, except it heads further south on the Chicago River and explores some of the north branch.

If you opt for the  90-minute Lake and River tour , you’ll experience a shorter tour on the Chicago River, but then you’ll go through the Chicago Lock and enjoy the view of the skyline from the massive Lake Michigan.

This  map  on Wendella’s website gives you an idea of where you’ll be along the river and lake.

The boat tour on the Chicago River was very  smooth . No big waves to cause rocking of the boat. Of course, if you’re prone to motion sickness, you may want to take medication or wear a patch prior to boarding. We did not do the Lake and River tour, but it is probably rougher out on Lake Michigan than the river.

Fun Fact: There are almost two dozen bridges that cross the Chicago River in the downtown area, alone. You’ll go under several of them while you’re on your architectural boat tour!

Tips for Your Wendella Boat Ride

• Arrive early:  They ask you to arrive 15-30 minutes before the tour to allow time to board. We arrived precisely 30 minutes before the tour started, and people were already in line. If you want a seat on the top deck, get there early.
• Sit near a speaker or close to the guide:  The guides share so many interesting facts and silly jokes you don’t want to miss them because you can’t hear them. They use a microphone, but with the sounds of the city, the wind, and other passing boats, it can be hard to hear everything.
• Dress warmer:  Unless it’s the middle of summer, you’ll probably be a little colder on the boat than you are walking around the city. Between the water and the breeze from the boat, it makes you feel colder, so bring a jacket in the fall and spring, and don’t forget a hat and scarf in the colder months.

FAQs About Architectural Boat Tours in Chicago

How much is an architectural boat tour in chicago.

The cost of an architectural boat tour in Chicago depends on which company you use. Prices for a 90-minute boat tour can range from $19-$30 for kids and $42-$50 for adults. A 45-minute boat tour is less expensive.

How long is the Chicago architecture boat tour?

The average Chicago architecture boat tour is 90 minutes long. However, Wendella offers 45-minute tours. Plan at least an additional 30-40 minutes before the tours for parking and waiting to board.

Is there alcohol on the Chicago architecture boat tour?

Every Chicago architecture boat tour offers a full-service bar with beer, wine, and cocktails.

Is the Chicago River tour worth it?

If you’re trying to see as much of Chicago as possible in a short time, the Chicago River tour is worth it. You’ll learn a lot of history about the city, see impressive buildings, and learn about the architectural style, all from the comfort of a smooth sailing boat.

Where does the Chicago Architecture Tour go?

Every Chicago architecture river tour follows the Chicago River. Depending on the tour and the tour length, you might navigate all three branches of the Chicago River. Some tours also go out on Lake Michigan.

Do Chicago architecture tours run in the winter?

Due to the unpredictable weather, many companies that offer architectural boat tours don’t provide them in the winter months. However, Wendella offers both their 45-minute and 90-minute river tours in the winter, typically on weekends and holidays.

Other Chicago Architecture Boat Tours

We loved our Wendella architecture river tour. However, if you’re looking for more options there are several companies who offer architectural boat tours in Chicago.

• Mercury Cruises’ Urban Adventure Cruise offered May – October
• Chicago Architecture Center’s River Cruise offered March – November
• Shoreline Sightseeing’s Architecture River Tour offered May – December
• Chicago Line’s Architectural Cruise offered spring – November

Wrapping Up Our Wendella Architectural Boat Tour Experience

We loved our boat tour on Wendella. We took the 45-minute tour, and it was perfect for our family. It’s a great option when you have young children or are trying to pack a lot of time in Chicago, especially if you only have one day to enjoy the city like we did.

The tour was fascinating; we learned a lot about the history of Chicago and the city’s different architectural styles. It was the perfect way to see a lot of Chicago in a short amount of time.

Read It Now. Pin It For Later!

Lauren is the visionary behind Where the Wild Kids Wander. She is a travel enthusiast who lives outside of Philadelphia. For more than a decade, she's been hitting the road, exploring the nooks and crannies of the United States alongside her family. Her passions include visiting big cities and small towns and trekking through nature's trails. She loves sharing those adventures with fellow travelers.

Wendella Sightseeing Cruises

Providing exciting experiences to locals and visitors since 1935, the Wendella Sightseeing company is known for its signature architecture tours. As the original boat tour company in Chicago, Wendella provides a variety of daily boat tours throughout the summer season, and special occasions as well.

Wendella’s vessels have open topped viewing decks that are perfect for warm Chicago days. Most of the vessels also feature an indoor, climate-controlled lounge on the lower deck, offering speakers that allow guests to continue listening to live narration from the tour guide while inside.

Types of Wendella Sightseeing Tours

Some of the variety of tours guests may find available from Wendella Sightseeing may include:

River Architecture Tours

Navigating through the heart of downtown Chicago on all three branches of the Chicago River, a short architecture tour of just over an hour tells the story of more than 130 years of innovative architecture and unique heritage.

Lake & River Tour

Lasting approximately 1 ½ hours, Wendella has been offering this classic lake and river tour since 1935! Telling the story of more than 200 years of history, this tour explores the community, politics and social history. Begin with an up-close view of iconic architecture from the river, and then move through the Chicago Lock onto the waters of Lake Michigan. This will offer amazing views of Chicago’s 26-mile long skyline.

Sunset Cruise

Spend the evening on the calm waters, watching the sun set slowly behind the city’s skyline. A serene, romantic cruise lasts 1 ½ hours and is best enjoyed with a cocktail, glass of wine, or cold beer.

Chicago River Experience

A shorter, 45-minute experience may be available on weekends and holidays throughout the peak season of the summer. Grab hold of the energy of the city through the heart of downtown Chicago with a casual, family-friendly introduction to the history and heritage of the Windy City.

Fireworks Cruise

Celebrate two nights a week throughout the peak summer season with a two-hour, epic fireworks cruise. Guests will experience an unobstructed, 360-degree view of the fireworks right over the skyline from the peaceful waters of Lake Michigan.

Specialty Cruises

Throughout the season, Wendella Sightseeing provides special occasion tours for various holidays and festivities. These may include St. Patrick’s Day (complete with the green river), 4 th of July, Halloween, Beer & BBQ, Wine & Cheese and more.

What You’ll See on a Wendella Sightseeing Cruise

Points of interest on the Wendell Sightseeing cruise route may include:

• Tribune Tower
• Wrigley Building
• Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
• Buckingham Fountain
• Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
• and much more!

Wendella Sightseeing Services

Public tours run daily throughout the warmer season, and the vessels can also be privately chartered for groups. Wendella’s boats are perfect as an open-air venue for family events, school trips, corporate events and much more. Private chartering may include a water taxi for group transportation, or cruise vessels that hold up to 275 guests.

Wendella Sightseeing Timing

River and lake architecture tours are offered each day through the season, from March through December. Cruises may last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the specific booking and schedule.

Wendella Sightseeing Considerations

Information guests may need before booking a Wendella Sightseeing Tour:

• Tours depart from the Wendella Main Dock at 400 Michigan Avenue as well as the Wendella West Dock (located at the lower level of Kinzie and Rush).
• Wendella vessels feature restrooms and full-service bars (cash or credit card).
• Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour at the ticket office, but booking online will ensure that spots are secured. Ticket sales close 5 minutes prior to tour departure.
• Tickets are not refundable but may be transferred to other dates and times.
• Guests should arrive 30 minutes prior to the tour time.
• Seats are not reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Bags are subject to inspection.
• Children receive discounted admission and under 4 are free.
• Active military members, veterans, and students should inquire about discounts.
• Follow Wendella on Twitter and Facebook for promo codes opportunities.
• Wheelchair access is available from the Wendella’s Trump Dock and six of the vessels can fit a wheelchair and have ADA compliant restrooms. Call prior to booking for specific information.
• Hearing impaired guests may request a written narration script at the ticket office.
• Pets are not allowed but ADA compliant service dogs are welcome.
• All tours are weather permitting and schedule may change daily.
• School trips require 1 adult chaperone to accompany every 15-20 children for safety purposes.

Book a Wendella Sightseeing Cruise

Tickets for Wendella Sightseeing Cruise should be purchased in advance online. Tours often sell out. Booking is easy online. Online bookings show weekly availability including tour times as well as revealing tours that are already sold out. Pay for your tour in advance with a credit card and receive an email with all of the information you need about where and when tours meet as well as what to expect.

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7 things that might surprise you about the Chicago Architecture Boat Tour

Tourists aren't the only ones that love chicago architecture boat tours -- locals do, too, by francie swidler • published august 1, 2023 • updated on august 4, 2023 at 7:44 am.

There are plenty of ways to take in the sights, sounds (and smells) of Chicago, but you don't necessarily have to be on land to do that.

And you don't have to be a tourist, either.

24/7 Chicago news stream: Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are

In fact, one of the most beloved ways — among locals and visitors alike — to experience city is by journeying across the Chicago River and Lake Michigan while a tour guide talks about buildings and regales you on the untold story of Mrs. O'Leary's cow.

In other words: a Chicago Architecture Boat Tour.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

"As you're going up and down the Chicago River and on Lake Michigan, you're seeing the city’s evolving architecture, which is changing every year" said Andrew Sargis, director of sales and marketing for Wendella Tours and Cruises .

Wendella, billed as Chicago's "original" architecture tour, in 1935 gave its first architecture tour of the city from a wooden diesel yacht out on Navy Pier, Sargis said. Now, upwards of 20 architecture tours are offered daily, with more on the weekends. On average, Wendella tours see roughly 100,000 passengers each month over the summer, Sargis said.

And though the majority of guests on any given Wendella architecture tour are tourists, Sargis said, locals take them, too.

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"I was surprised when I first started, we get a lot of repeat locals," Bobby Scheffle, a Wendella tour guide told NBC Chicago. "And always there's a lot of local people that come on when they have guests visiting them in town. They like to show off the city this way."

But there's something else about the experience that makes it so very Chicago.

"I think it is really unique to experience the city from a boat on a river, because we think about other big cities in the United States -- there aren't many that have a river that go right through downtown," Scheffle said. "You feel like you're in the city, you hear the noise, and you see the buildings and all that."

Whether you're taking the ride for the first time or the 50th, bringing out-of-town guests out for a memorable activity or just itching to be a tourist in your own city, here are seven things to know about the Chicago Architecture Boat Tour.

Will weather stop a tour from running?

Wendella's architecture tours run year-round, Sargis said, although "weather is a factor."

Weather events like ice on the river or significant snowfall can impact operations, Sargis said, but they typically don't, since the Chicago River -- a federal waterway -- must remain navigable year-round.

While Wendella's boats do have climate-controlled indoor lounges, tours during the winter may run at limited times. But rain, snow, extreme heat or wind, unflappable Chicagoans still show up.

"We went on drizzly day a few years ago," Kathy Rambo wrote on NBC Chicago's Facebook page. "There were only about 10 of us on the boat!

And most often, the tour will run — rain or shine — so don't hesitate to bring a raincoat.

"I have certainly [given tours] under thunderstorms and downpours, and I've gotten drenched sometimes," Scheffle said. "I've never had a tour get canceled because no one bought a ticket. There's always someone wanting to come out here in the rain or the cold."

What's the best time of year (or day) to go?

It depends on when exactly your favorite time of the year is, and what you're hoping to see.

For Sargis, it's late summer. "There's this point of time in September when the weather is beautiful, but there's not that summer rush."

There are other times that Chicagoans may want to consider, too.

"St. Patrick's Day Celebration when they dye the river, and any Wednesday or Saturday night [over the summer], watching the fireworks over Lake Michigan , especially if you're local" Sargis said.

During the summer months, Wendella's tours run start as early as 9 a.m., with the day's final tour not ending until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., Scheffle said, "so if you want to come for a ride to see the city lights, you can come late, and it's also beautiful, just a little more difficult to see the colors on the buildings if that's what you want to see."

Laura Pubins, who lives in a suburb outside of Chicago, agrees.

"My favorite one was when we were on a boat at sunset," Pubins wrote to NBC Chicago on Facebook. "It was an awesome new view of the city."

What's the most photogenic spot on the tour?

For Sargis, it's "anything out on Lake Michigan," with the skyline in the background.

On the river though, there's one moment that captures the city best, Scheffle said, no matter what time of day you're taking the trip.

"The best place to take a photo on the 90-minute river tour is when we come up the south branch from Chinatown," Scheffle said. "That's the best place because you get the whole skyline from the south. It's really beautiful."

For locals though, it may not be what you're looking at, so much as how you're looking at it.

"You're looking at [the city] from underneath," said Chicago resident Nick Pappas, 55, who recently found himself on a 90-minute river tour. "It's just a different perspective on the river that you don't get on the street level. As amazing as that sounds, you're only, like, 20 feet down, but it gives you a whole different perspective."

What does the training for a tour guide look like?

According to Sargis, all Wendella tour guides are trained in-house -- and the spots are competitive.

"There's high demand," Sargis said, of the position. "There are more people that want to be tour guides than space available. It's certainly a popular job, and people want to do it." While the tour guide of any given architecture tour isn't made public, many people do request certain ones for private events, Sargis said.

For the tours, there's a general script, with highlights that must be mentioned, Sargis said. But improvisation, along with sharing personal history is encouraged, too.

"All of the tour guides have their own experience in the city, and will add parts of their history in it," Sargis said. "We have a tour guide that is a retired police officer, and he will interject anecdotes form his career. We have a tour guide that's a Vietnam War Veteran, and when we go by the Vietnam War Memorial, he will always discuss the importance of it to him."

For Scheffle, the training included joining multiple tours a week for two weeks and flashcards.

"For a while, I, just drove Uber and Lyft," Scheffle said. "And then, I remembered that I really liked Chicago. I like learning fun facts about it. And there are people in the city that have that as a job -- to tell people fun facts about Chicago and I started looking into tourism jobs in the city."

What's the most common question tour guides get?

Believe it or not, it's not always about The Great Chicago Fire , or Mrs. O'Leary and her cow, at least on Scheffle's tours.

"My favorite thing on the tour that happens is probably when little kids ask questions," Scheffle said. "The common question that a kid will ask, because I talk about the tallest building, second tallest building, third tallest building, a lot of times a kid will ask what's the shortest building in Chicago? Which I don't have a good answer for."

Are you supposed to tip your guide?

"It's up to the discretion of the client," Sargis said. "I would say a lot of our passengers do tip our tour guides."

What's the absolute best part of the tour?

Sure the tour is photogenic, and the city's history is fascinating. And though some may go on the tour to find out what buildings are new, others prefer to think about the old.

"My favorite building to talk about is probably the Board of Trade building," Scheffle said. "Just because I remember walking by it much younger and always, I remember, really being impressed by it, thinking was such a cool big city building."

For a local on the tour, the memories are nice. But a day out on the water in Chicago is just hard to beat.

"It's great. I don't have to work," said Pappas, who has lived in the city for 55 years. "Every time, it's a little treat to go down the river."

Video editors Ivonne Ramirez and DS Shin produced and created the video for this story.

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Want to swim the chicago river open-water event gets the green light..

Jack Grieve is a Crain’s reporter covering the news people are talking about, from Chicago and West Michigan to Cleveland , Detroit and New York .

Open-water swimming will return to the once heavily contaminated Chicago River this fall during an event organizers are pitching as a celebration of the waterway's environmental turnaround.

Five hundred people are expected to participate in the organized swim, slated for the early morning of Sunday, Sept. 22. Swimmers will opt for a 1-mile or 2-mile route, with the course looping the main stem of the downtown river corridor between State Street and Wolf Point. 

The event, which received final approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, is organized by A Long Swim, a Barrington-based nonprofit that raises money for ALS research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

The Chicago swim has been more than a decade in the making, said A Long Swim co-founder Doug McConnell, and it marks the revival of the long-dormant open-water swims that were commonplace on the Chicago River in the early 1900s.

The swim highlights the river cleanup efforts of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and groups like Friends of the Chicago River, which have spent decades working to improve the health of the waterway .

McConnell hopes the swim becomes annual. "This has all the earmarks of being a really big event for the city and certainly for the charity," he said.

Event organizers plan to closely monitor water quality levels ahead of the swim. After decades of unsafe contamination levels , the Chicago River is now safe for swimming "most of the time," McConnell said, but even he acknowledged that heavy storms and other extenuating factors can render the conditions less safe.

Assuming the water quality is up to standard come Sept. 22, the swim will start at 6:45 a.m. and end with a hard cutoff at 9 a.m. — intentionally early to reduce the event's effect on regularly scheduled river activity.

"We promise to make sure all the swimmers are out of the water before the real commercial day starts with the architecture boats and the kayaks and the motorboats," McConnell said. Wendella Tours & Cruises is a founding partner of the event, as is Urban Kayaks.

A Long Swim says it has raised more than $2 million for ALS research at Feinberg. One-mile participants in the Chicago swim are expected to raise a minimum of $1,000 each for the nonprofit, with 2-mile swimmers expected to raise $1,500. Proceeds will go to ALS research funding and learn-to-swim programs for underserved communities in the city.

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