May 29 – June 3, 2016

This spring, National Trust Tours returns to Chicago – a quintessential destination for architecture lovers – with this custom-designed tour offering an insightful look at the modern and contemporary art and architecture that makes Chicago one of the world’s most captivating cities.

Take an architectural cruise along the Chicago River, highlighting the many innovative and historically important architectural designs that were born in Chicago. See several Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings, including his own home and studio in Oak Park, as well as the iconic Robie House. Enter Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House,* a masterpiece of design and elegant simplicity, and hailed as one of the most important works of 20th-century modern architecture. Enjoy one of the finest private collections of decorative arts from the American and English Arts and Crafts Movements, showcased in the renovated farm buildings of a private estate. And take guided explorations of some of Chicago’s most intriguing and dazzling sites, such as Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Driehaus Museum/Nickerson Mansion, the Auditorium Theatre, and numerous other architectural gems sprinkled throughout this great city.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 | Welcome to Chicago
Upon arrival in Chicago, transfer independently to the Palmer House®, A Hilton Hotel, a revered landmark in the heart of Chicago’s loop and a member of Historic Hotels of America. Guests will join the study leader and architectural historian Rolf Achilles at 4:00 p.m. for a walk to the Chicago River to spend the afternoon aboard a special 90-minute architectural riverboat cruise. Afterwards, guests will return to the hotel for a welcome reception.

Day 2 | In the Footsteps of Wright
The day begins with a drive to Oak Park, the Chicago suburb where Frank Lloyd Wright lived for two decades. Tour Wright’s home and studio, a National Trust Historic Site, and see where the Prairie style was born. Then enjoy a walking tour to see the exteriors of several Wright-designed residential properties. Following lunch, drive through the charming Hyde Park community en route to the University of Chicago, where guests will enjoy a tour of Wright’s Robie House.

Day 3 | Arts & Crafts Movement
Spend the morning at a privately-owned farm just off of Lake Michigan and examine one of the most important private collections of Arts and Crafts furniture and decorative arts. After lunch, guests will enter a private home for an exclusive viewing of the owner’s art collection. The day concludes at the Driehaus Museum and docent-led tour of its fabulous collection of Gilded Age-era decorative arts, housed in the Nickerson Mansion.

Day 4 | Miles & Modern Architecture
Drive 90 minutes to Plano, Illinois for an exclusive viewing of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House,* an icon of 20th-century modern architecture and a National Trust Historic Site. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and return to Chicago for a tour of the Illinois Institute of Technology campus.
*pending renovation schedule

Day 5 | The Art Institute & Millennium Park
Walk the legendary Auditorium Theatre, the last surviving building to which architects Louis Sullivan, Dankmar Adler, and Frank Lloyd Wright all contributed. Continue to the Art Institute of Chicago for a highlight tour of its extensive collection. The remainder of the afternoon is free to continue exploring the Art Institute or other Chicago attractions. In the evening, guests will take a guided stroll through Millennium Park before dining at one of Chicago’s most popular restaurants for a farewell dinner.

Day 6 | Architectural Landmarks of the Loop
Spend the morning on a walking tour of the historically significant architectural gems surrounding the hotel before taking independent transportation to the airport for return flights home.

Tour Price

From $3,195 ($695 single supplement)*
*See Terms & Conditions for payment schedule
Tour price includes five (5) nights at the Palmer House®, A Hilton Hotel; breakfast daily, three (3) lunches, one (1) dinner, one (1) reception; wine at dinner; leadership of Rolf Achilles; services of ISDI Tour Manager; entrances to all visits on itinerary; land transportation by private coach; gratuities to local guides and drivers; entrance fees to sites per itinerary.

Tour price excludes airfare, airline taxes, and fuel surcharges; transfers to and from the airport; excursions, activities, or meals marked optional on the itinerary; gratuities for housekeeping staff at the hotel; personal items; personal services; travel extensions; personal insurance for health, baggage, and tour cancellation; any other items not specifically included in the itinerary.

Special Offer!
Mention Historic Hotels of America when booking your tour and receive three $100 gift certificates, each good toward a $100 refund when you book through HistoricHotels.org and stay for at least two-nights at a Historic Hotels of America hotel.**

Reservations
To book a tour, please contact our tour VIP desk by calling +1 202 772 8000 or emailing scalhoun@historichotels.org.

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Terms & Conditions

A deposit of $1,000 per paying participant is required to guarantee participation in the program. The deposit may be paid by check or by Visa or MasterCard. Final payment will be invoiced and is due on February 19, 2016, by check only made out to International Seminar Design, Inc. Registrants will be accepted beyond this date on a space-available basis with payment in full by check only.

Airfare is not included in the tour price. Participants are responsible for all aspects of their round-trip air arrangements into and out of Chicago.

International Seminar Design, Inc. (ISDI) acts only as an agent for the participant with respect to transportation, accommodations, and all other services relating to this tour. ISDI, the National Trust, and/or their agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error or omission, or for any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity, which may be cuased by an defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus, or other carrier, or through neglect or default of any subcontractor or other third party, which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the participants of the tour. ISDI and NTHP reserve the right to cancel any outr prior to departure for any reason including insufficient numbers of participants, as well as the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time. If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs or itinerary alterations before departure date.

All cancellations must be received in writing by ISDI, and are subject to a non-refundable, administrative fee of $500 per person. Written cancellation received by ISDI on or before February 19, 2016: full refund minus $500 per person administrative fee. Written cancellation received by ISDI between Febraury 20 and April 15, 2016: 50 percent of tour cost per person. Cancellation received on or after April 16, 2016: no refund. After the has commenced, it is not possible to issue any refunds. No refunds for any unused portion of the tour including, but not limited to, occasional missed meals or any missed sightseeing tours. Costs for promotion, staff, and other group expenses are not refundable. In the case of cancellation, substitutions are not accepted. The tour cost is non-transferable. If ISDI or the NTHP cancels the tour, active registrants will receive a full refund of all tour payments. A package of cancellation, baggage, and medical insurance is strongly recommended.

Travel Insurance
The National Trust for Historic Preservation strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. For additional information, please contact National Trust Tours at 888-484-8785.

**Maximum of one $100 certificate may be claimed for a refund with a minimum two night stay booked through HistoricHotels.org following the return of your tour and completion of your hotel stay. The refund will be issued within 45 days of the completion of your stay upon submitting a Great Experiences & Tours $100 refund application. Refund application must be submitted with a copy of your hotel folio receipt, the original confirmation number from your booking on HistoricHotels.org, and the Certificate number issued to you for booking your tour through Historic Hotels of America. Certificates issued are a promotion only valid toward future reservations made through HistoricHotels.org and do not have any cash value. One certificate may be used per room per two night or longer stay at the same hotel. Eligible rates include rates publicly available at time of booking. Reduced rates, rooms included in another travel or tour package, employee rates, advance purchase rates, and certain last minute sale rates are not eligible for this promotion.