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A walk through the Pedway: Mastering the Loop’s network of underground tunnels

A lifesaver or pedestrian purgatory?

A hallway with a white floor and white ceiling. Shops on the left and right with a few people walking down a hall. A staircase and elevator shown on the right.

Chicago is known for a variety of transportation: busy airports , a popular riverfront , and a strategic rail transit hub . However, the city’s downtown is perhaps best traveled by foot. It’s the only way to explore a series of underground tunnels and bridges known as the Pedway that link more than 40 blocks in the Loop.

Plus, knowledge of the underground path comes in handy during the city’s extreme cold and unpredictable seasons. Tens of thousands of travelers use parts of the roughly five-mile pathway everyday which connects to CTA stations, public buildings, and private offices, according to the city.

Despite living in Chicago for almost two decades, I find myself chronically underdressed each winter and usually in need of protection for impractical footwear making it from the L to meetings that take place in the Loop. For this reason, I have become quite familiar with the downtown Pedway system.

A square compass sign marked with West and East shows the direction of streets in Chicago.

History of Chicago’s underground tunnel system

The Chicago Pedestrian Walkway System works in conjunction with street level paths that connect to almost 50 buildings in the Loop. The longest continuous section of the Pedway runs east-west from 120 N. LaSalle Street to the Millennium Park near Columbus Drive and Randolph Street with various points radiating north and south.

The system includes several shorter sections, at times serving only as a connection between buildings and CTA or Metra Stations. Nearly every civically significant building in the Loop, including City Hall and the James R. Thompson Center, is connected by a section of the Pedway.

The system opened in 1951 with the completion of tunnel between the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway and the State Street Subway, connecting what is now the Red and Blue lines. In 1966, the former Brunswick Building at 69 W. Washington Street was linked to the Civic Center. Then in late 1980s a connection was made to the Millennium Metra station which was completed in 2005. Another extension of the Pedway was added in 2010 which opened up access to north of Lake Street to Aqua Tower.

While the notion of an indoor pedestrian subway in Chicago existed as early as the 1920s, it took the success of indoor suburban malls and the transition of State Street from that ‘Great Street’ to a series of discount stores, pawn shops, and burlesque theaters to encourage city planners to push for all-weather pedestrian walkways. Several comprehensive plans presented in the late 1960s urged Chicago to consider connecting commercial and civic buildings in the Loop.

In its primary civic role, the Pedway allows underground access between City Hall, the Daley Center, the Cook County Office Building, and the Thompson Center which bridges these government buildings. It also provides ingress to the private sector and public citizens to Daley Center Court rooms, offices of the Cook County Clerk, and the Central Illinois Secretary of State Facility. Between these are a super colony of businesses, including dry cleaners, salons, shoe repair shops, and restaurants and bars.

However, the Pedway has issues with inconsistent signage and an official map that lacks dozens of informal pathways. Some of these walkways are through private property or in many cases across commuter or rapid transit train platforms. Many Pedway routes are marked with blue and yellow compasses set into the terrazzo floor, but others are designed to match the colors and aesthetic of the building it connects to which can be misleading.

Some areas of the Pedway are aggressively patrolled with staff and cameras, while others appear to be entirely void of any attention. As sections of the Pedway are operated by individual building owners, not all doors remain open in the evenings or weekends.

A staircase with marble and tiles. A black railing.

A walk through the Chicago Pedway

Earlier this week, I descended into the Chicago Pedway beneath the Roger Brown mural of Daedalus & Icarus at 120 North LaSalle, towards City Hall and the County Building, where the entrance was clearly marked with the Pedway system compass. This is a good sign, I thought. As the Pedway travels beneath buildings, it reflects the building just above through matching designs or materials, providing a more kickable example of the architecture, as the Pedway is public space. In the case of 120 North LaSalle, the same gray-black marble is repeated in the hallway, transitioning through a steel doorway to the City side of the City Hall/County Building, where the walls are tiled in the black and grey of the Chicago Police Department.

Cadet training occurs in this area of the basement of City Hall, as well as case research. There’s also a bike room down there for city employees. The Pedway forces itself upstairs from here, and into the first-floor lobby of the City Hall/County Building. The path continues into the county building, and down an escalator facing east to Clark Street. Getting back into the Pedway when it is no longer underground can be tricky. This was my first instance of mild confusion, but I learned that my intuition to head to the down escalator was a good one.

The bowels of the Daley Center mimic the building above, including glossy terrazzo floors, tan Roman brick and plate glass—something like the International Style gone casual. The foot traffic really picks up in this portion of the Pedway, as Chicagoans make their way to file forms, apply for licenses, obtain certificates and go to court. The directory within this area is a useless piece of brass, indicating that picnic permits could be obtained if one walks towards the direction of a solid brick wall.

A staircase with terrazzo steps and a light red railing.

I observed a nervous woman in an Anthony Rizzo jersey briefly checking out the directory before bolting in the direction of the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, only to suddenly pivot on a clipped expletive before turning around in the opposite direction.

Next to the Liquor License Appeal Commission Offices, is a Starbucks with a tiny patio, quietly piping music into the heavily cooled air. The Pedway is known as a welcome respite from the harsh winds and cold winters, but it can also provide relief from late summer heat.

The Pedway splits off here, with one branch headed towards the Dunne Office Building and the other headed towards the Red Line and Block 37.

Within the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building are the Pedway shops including Angileri’s Barber Shop, Around the Clock Repair, and an entrance to Trattoria No. 10. Doubling back towards the east end of the Pedway is the mezzanine to the State Street Subway, Block 37, and the Red Line near Macy’s.

This portion of the Chicago Pedway dates to 1989, but was brightened in 2013 by the addition of 22 art glass windows. The collection, once part of the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows at Navy Pier, includes designers part of the American Victorian stained glass movement like Louis Comfort Tiffany. Here, the omnipresent florescent light of the rest of the Pedway is replaced by brilliantly colored faceted glass set into innovative compositions and lit from behind.

A hallway with a black wall and two arched stained glass windows, with more in the distance. They are back light with flowery and traditional designs.

Nearby, the entrance to the Cultural Center is marked by a simple postmodern rotunda, perhaps evocative of the treasures within the building, such as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall and Preston Bradley Hall, home of a 38-foot Tiffany Favrile glass dome. Both spaces are within the same building but represent two distinct decorative moods.

East of the Cultural Center and heading towards Millennium Station, the Pedway takes a dark turn. The nearly 20-year effort to turn the cavernous, dank underground of Millennium Station into a modern terminal didn’t affect all of the spaces, and many still appear to be under construction, particularly the musty and littered entrance corridors. Bare concrete floors and dusty utility lights give way to the Millennium Station Concourse, with its cool blue terrazzo floor with pedestrian lanes, a gentle design reminder to keep movement orderly while moving through the space during rush hour.

A pathway with blue and white stripes. The ceiling is lighted and wavy. Several people and walking away towards a column.

Close to 20,000 people board Metra and South Shore Line trains daily, many of them working the Pedway to shave off precious seconds from their commute from offices downtown to awaiting trains. Fans of the Batman franchise will remember this area from 2008’s The Dark Knight. Batman sped through the concourse on the Batpod with the same ferocity as a sneaker and white tube sock suburbanite, frantic to catch her Union Pacific Northwest to Arlington Heights that leaves at 5:05 p.m.

Mbar, within the station, and perhaps the Pedway’s only official bar (as Infields is technically located inside Macy’s), provides commuters with drinks and snacks before their rides home. I watched a weary professional order an “extra-large Chard” from the bartender, who emptied out the cold coffee from her mug and filled it with Chardonnay, as travelers on commuter trains may choose to take their beverages to go.

North of Lake Street and accessible only above ground, is the second largest segment of the Pedway, connecting Michigan Plaza at 205 N. Michigan Avenue, to the Swissotel Chicago. The western-most entry point to this portion of the Pedway was difficult to find. I initially followed the wrong escalator down once inside Michigan Plaza and into a private area where I was chastised for taking a photograph of a particularly unhelpful sign.

An image of an exterior of a barber shop with a glass window. There are chairs in front with mirrors.

The Pedway here, toted by neighbors as beneath the New East Side micro neighborhood, extends to several hotels, including the Fairmont Hotel and the Hyatt Regency, and takes on a decidedly different character than the larger portion of the Pedway. Spaces along this stretch are cleaner and carpeted, and have more in common with hotel hallways than the larger portion of the Pedway connecting civic and commercial buildings.

With only three residential buildings boasting connections to the Pedway, specifically the Heritage at Millennium Park, the Park Millennium, and Aqua Tower, residents of the area were disappointed that the Pedway did not continue east once it was connected to Aqua in 2009. Despite the limited access to residential developments, this area of the Pedway seems popular with young parents and dog owners during the day, as I dodged several sleepy toddlers in strollers and joyful terriers.

A bronze plaque on a marble wall.

The route became particularly confusing as I approached the Hyatt Regency, where several entrances and pathways are unmarked. Twice I ended up going down the wrong hallway and was plunged into the perpetual darkness of Lower Wacker Drive with no Pedway compass in sight. Here I ran into a young man who seemed to lose all hope in finding the Central Auto Pound. Was this some sort of pedestrian purgatory?

I asked a parking lot security guard for directions back down into the Pedway, heading south on lower Columbus Drive at his suggestion. When I arrived at what I heard to be the entrance to the Pedway, I found a stairway leading up. Did the security guard mistake my question about the Pedway entrance as one asking how to just simply get out of here?

A blue and yellow star-like compass on a marble wall.

I ascended the steps onto upper Columbus Drive, a street full of hotels, commercial buildings and general pedestrian unfriendliness that is more evocative of suburban Schaumburg than the Loop. Following an escalator down into the Pedway connected to Aqua, back on track towards the Swisshotel.

I thought about the simplicity of Chicago’s street grid system, creating a zero point at State and Madison streets that has assisted Chicagoans to get where they are going since 1909, against the intricacies and colloquial habits of the Pedway system.

There is room for improvement, particularly in terms of increasing the number of signs and making them consistent overall, but with three levels to Wacker Drive, neighborhoods and the grid system slashed by highways, diagonal streets and boulevards, knowing how to get around in Chicago is often an experience that maps and signs cannot teach. The only way to master the Chicago Pedway is on foot racking up the underground miles step by step.

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Underground Chicago Walking Tour of the Pedway

American Walks - Daley Center - SE corner of Clark & Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60612

Underground Chicago Pedway

The Underground Chicago Walk is a tour through Chicago’s pedway, a little-known underground tunnel system in the heart of downtown Chicago — with food samples included. It may sound scary but fear not, the recently rehabbed tunnels are used by thousands of savvy locals every day.

Purchase half-price tickets to this event.

Start Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020 End Date: Friday, August 28, 2020 Time: varies by date Location: American Walks – Daley Center – SE corner of Clark & Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60612 Cost: $25 (Ticketing processing fees apply.)

Additional dates and times may be available. Times and prices vary by date. Please view ticketing page for details. * Exact meetup location is confirmed when reservations are made. *

The pedway connects many of Chicago’s beloved landmarks, like Macy’s (Marshall Field’s), The Thompson Center, Block 37, The Daley Center, Millennium Park, City Hall and many more. Miles of new tunnels have been opened, with miles more in the works. Come explore the underground tunnels while sampling food at some of the unique restaurants, cafes and shops the pedway has to offer. You’ll sample artisan grilled cheese sandwiches, frozen kefir, traditional Thai cuisine, Garrett’s popcorn (a treat bag of their famous “Garrett’s Mix”), a wine tasting at Macy’s wine shop (Friday tours only) and a stop at Macy’s Candy Kitchen. The tour stops by the unexpected underground American Victorian stained glass art exhibit and ends in the Chicago Cultural Center, home to the world’s largest Tiffany dome glass ceiling. Give yourself some extra time after the tour – which is updated for winter to keep you inside and warm – to take in one or all of the Cultural Center’s free art exhibits. Note that meeting locations change frequently and you will be given the correct meeting location after you book a specific date.

More half-price, discount and pre-sale theater tickets, comedy, musicals and more.

Discount Parking: StyleChicago.com recommends booking convenient & affordable parking in advance through SpotHero , the nation?s leading parking reservation app & website.

More fun things to do in Chicago * StyleChicago.com’s 13th annual Resolutions 2020 at the W Chicago – City Center * Chicago Artisan Market – Sun, March 8th at Morgan MFG

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Six Tunnels Hidden Under Chicago’s Loop

tunnel thumb

Karri DeSelm works in the JW Marriott Building, on the corner of LaSalle and Adams in downtown Chicago. Her building, the last designed by famed architect Daniel Burnham, was completed in 1914, and underwent major renovations two years ago. Karri says that at the time, her boss told her that she had been down deep into the building’s basement, where she had seen the entrance to a secret tunnel that ran underneath the Loop.

That got Karri wondering:

“I have heard there is a network of layered tunnels under the city. Is this true, and if so, what was the purpose of the tunnels when they were designed and built?”

For starters, it’s true — there are many tunnels underneath the Loop. We found no fewer than six different sets of tunnels , including the tunnels connected to Karri’s building.

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chicago tunnel tours

Each of the tunnels we found was at some point, or continues to be, a critical part of Chicago’s infrastructure. The city would be lost without these tunnels. Sometimes they’re hidden, and sometimes they’re just overlooked, taken for granted by the people who walk above them. But trust us — 2.8 million people would notice the tunnels’ absence because they’d have no reliable source of clean tap water, no flood control and no crosstown “L” service in the Loop.

And the tunnels that aren’t still in use are more than just odd architectural remnants or historical curiosities. They may be obscured from sight and from memory (or even sealed off), but they’re still an important part of the city’s built environment. As one source put it, we ignore the tunnels at our own peril. When we erect new buildings downtown, we do so in a densely layered maze of infrastructure, both old and new.

To help wrap our heads around Karri’s question, we worked with Erik N. Rodriguez of The Illustrated Press . Based on our reporting, he created the graphic above, which shows six different kinds of tunnels, how deep underground they are and how they’re situated relative to one another. Note, though, that the drawing is a composite; it shows what can be found at different depths across the Loop, but not necessarily beneath any single street address.

1. The Pedway

File Chicago’s Pedway under tunnels you may not know you know. You may have seen the system’s distinctive black and gold compass logo marking the entryways of skyscrapers downtown without knowing what they signified.

chicago tunnel tours

Although the Pedway provides a climate-controlled alternative to Chicago’s sidewalks, it’s more than just a thoroughfare. Under its fluorescent lights and beige ceiling tiles you can get your haircut, get a clock fixed, grab coffee, shop for a blender or order new license plates.

Perhaps that’s why Amanda Scotese offers walking tours of the Pedway through Chicago Detours , her unconventional tourism company. As Scotese’s carefully researched Pedway map illustrates, this system of tunnels is a disconnected mishmash. Although the Chicago Department of Transportation technically oversees the Pedway, many sections are owned by other government entities, while still others are privately owned and controlled by the management of whatever building they pass underneath.

Case in point: During a recent afternoon rush hour visit to the Pedway, Scotese, our question-asker Karri and I were stymied by a section of the Pedway under City Hall that closed promptly at 5 p.m.

2. CTA tunnels

File these tunnels under those you probably take for granted. Although the city prides itself on its extensive network of elevated trains, two downtown subway tunnels also move commuters through the Loop. These tunnels are now owned and operated by the CTA, and in 2012, the combined “L” stops inside the two tunnels served an average of 82,343 passengers every weekday. 

chicago tunnel tours

The city began digging the two subway tunnels in 1938, with the help of money from FDR’s New Deal and the Works Progress Administration.

Meant to accommodate crosstown “L” traffic, which could become snarled in the Loop, the tunnels range from 20 to 60 feet underground. Steel and concrete tubes 200 feet long housed the tunnels as they passed under the Chicago River.

As was the case with previous public works, the opening of the State Street subway tunnel in 1943 was cause for celebration: The curators of the transit history site Chicago L describe the festivities this way:

Between 10:25 and 10:45 a.m., ten special trains arrived at State and Madison to unload their passengers. At 10:47 a.m., Mayor Kelly cut a ceremonial red, white, and blue ribbon strung across the northbound track, officially giving the new subway to the city.

The Dearborn Street tunnel, delayed by World War II, was completed in 1951.

3. Freight tunnels

Of all the tunnels under the Loop, the 60 miles of freight tunnels 40 feet underground are the most extensive. They also happen to be unique to Chicago.

chicago tunnel tours

Tiny freight trains, that is. The tunnels were only seven feet tall and horseshoe-shaped, with concrete walls and tracks running along the floor. Meaning … these freight cars were no bigger than small dumpsters.

This literal underground railroad delivered coal and freight to the sub-basements of prominent buildings in the Loop: City Hall, the Tribune Tower, the Merchandise Mart and dozens more.

The tunnels stretched from 16th Street to River North and the Field Museum. Remarkably, the tunnel system followed the street grid above so, to this day, you can navigate the freight tunnels using an ordinary Chicago street map.

That is if you could get inside. Most of the tunnel entrances were sealed in 1992, after a construction crew driving pilings into the Chicago River punctured the tunnels, flooding them and the buildings to which they were connected.

4. Cable car tunnels

Between 1882 and 1906 it was the cable car network, not the “L,” that served as Chicago’s main form of public transit. In fact, Chicago’s cable car system was once the largest and most profitable of its kind.

chicago tunnel tours

The first two cable car tunnels made West Side service possible via Washington Street and North Side service possible via LaSalle. These tunnels were expanded from remnants of pedestrian and wagon tunnels dug at the same locations in 1869 and 1871. In fact, just a few months after it opened, the LaSalle Street tunnel served as a major escape route during the Great Chicago Fire.

Sitting 60 feet below ground, these new cable car tunnels were deeper than their predecessors, but they also happened to be steeper. The new tunnels had a 12 percent grade — three times the rise of today’s CTA trains. 

A private company built a third cable car tunnel between Van Buren and Jackson Streets in 1894. All three tunnels were later adapted for electric street cars, which replaced cable cars beginning in 1906.

But both means of transit ultimately fell out of use. When the “L” became ascendant the cable car tunnels were abandoned and sealed. 

They’re still there, though, and there’s plenty more to read about their remnants .

5. Water tunnels

In 1867 Chicago built an intake crib two miles out in Lake Michigan to collect fresh drinking water for the growing city. Earlier efforts to collect water closer to shore had failed. If this fact inspires a big yawn from you, consider that at this point the city was still dumping sewage into the Chicago River, which fed directly into the lake.

chicago tunnel tours

Those intake tunnels now feed through the city’s two filtration plants, but at least one tunnel was taken out of service and sealed when a portion of it collapsed near Lake Shore Drive in 1998. Officials also shut down portions of the drive during repairs, fearing the collapse might be a hazard for motorists.

But the city is tight-lipped about what other parts of this infrastructure remain in use. We wanted to know where the remaining tunnels are located and how deep underground they are, but the Department of Water Management denied our request.

Tom LaPorte, the department’s spokesperson and Assistant Commissioner, said the department feared such information might make the city’s water infrastructure more vulnerable to terrorist attacks. 

“We’re the world’s largest water treatment facility,” he said. “Anything that’s going to put us at risk we’re not going to do, even for WBEZ.”

6. The Deep Tunnel

The Deep Tunnel is rarely referred to by its full name, the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). But its nickname is apt; at a maximum depth of 350 feet it’s the deepest of the six sets of tunnels we’re treating here. When Chicago’s freight tunnels flooded in 1992, the water was drained into here.

chicago tunnel tours

The tunnels’ depth is not the project’s only stunning statistic. As one writer put it, “the mega-project is one of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in terms of scope, cost and timeframe.”

Phase 1 construction, a network of nearly 110 miles of tunnels designed to store 2.3 billion gallons of water, began in 1975 and was not completed until 2006. Three enormous reservoirs, designed to store an additional 14.8 billion gallons of water, are set to be completed by 2029.

The Deep Tunnel’s operator, The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, kindly offered us a tour of the project’s south suburban pumping station, which, they told us, has a main chamber “the size of two NBA basketball courts.”

We declined their offer, but only for now. Curious City receives so many different questions about the Deep Tunnel and its economic and environmental impact that we’re planning a separate story for later this summer digging into that.

Tunnels aplenty, but running out of space

So Chicago is chock full of tunnels, at least downtown. There are other tunnels, too, in other parts of the city. Since I’ve started my reporting I’ve had sources regale me with tales of industrial tunnels that connect factories in Bridgeport, and listeners write in with tidbits about a tunnel that might run under Midway Airport.

But is the time for tunnels over in this city? Or could we see the construction of new tunnels in the future?

Sources we talked to said it’s unlikely. Most of the tunnels detailed above were built during Chicago’s greatest growth and expansion. Chicago had 330,000 residents in 1870, but it boasted over a million just 20 years later. Major works of infrastructure, whether financed publicly or privately, were needed to support and encourage such growth.

But now, Chicago’s population is declining — as many as 181,000 people left the city between 2000 and 2010 — even if some parts of town, like the Loop, have grown lately.

And between all the tunnels already under the Loop and other kinds of buried municipal and private infrastructure, it’s pretty crowded underground. While there’s no shortage of ongoing infrastructure projects abounding in Chicago, whether it’s the renovation of the Bloomingdale Trail (sorry, I mean the 606 ), upgrades to the Chicago riverfront or basic maintenance to the city’s sewers, only the Deep Tunnel remains on the city’s tunnel horizon.  

That means that every tunnel down there now will one day be old. We may even abandon the newer ones someday in favor of better, more efficient solutions that haven’t yet been invented.

For our question-asker Karri, that’s a good reminder to pay attention to what’s there now.

“You work up in an office cubicle and don’t think about [what’s underground],” Karri said. Exploring that infrastructure now “can remind you of a flood, or the original purpose of the area, the history of it.”

“I guess that’s its value.”

Robin Amer is a producer on WBEZ’s digital team. Follow her on Twitter @rsamer .

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Chicago Pedway Tour

chicago tunnel tours

Tour Information

Pedway tour, pedway tour highlights.

cityhall

Construction of this labyrinth began in 1951 to simply connect the Red and Blue line subway/'L' train stops. Now it connects over 50 buildings, 40 blocks, and 5 miles of pathways.

While on this tour, we will see Chicago's famous architecture while peering out of the windows of intricate lobbies, amazing examples of art, and we'll discover some of the best "secret-eats" in the city- all while enjoying the comfort of the temperature regulated pathways!

Sites on the Chicago Pedway Tour:

  • The Wrigley Building
  • Trump Tower
  • The Marina Towers
  • The Leo Burnett Lobby
  • The Thompson Center
  • Stained Glass Museum (Temporary)
  • The Cultural Center

Tour information

Reservations: REQUIRED. Click here to reserve . Groups of 9 or more must contact us before booking.

Where: Directly inside of the Wow Bao at 1 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601.

Duration: Tour lasts approx. 2 hours. Total walking is just over one mile (1.6km).

When:    View our Calendar . Tours are on U.S. Central Standard Time. This tour is offered seasonally only.

Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget.

And much, much more

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The 6 Best Chicago Walking Tours

See the best Chi-Town has to offer on your own two feet.

Best Chicago Walking Tours

Courtesy of Steven Sabourin | Inside Chicago

Discover the hidden details of the Windy City's famed architecture with a tour from Inside Chicago.

Note: Some tour providers on this list may have ceased operations due to COVID-19. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

The Windy City is known for its interesting architecture and landmarks, its deep-dish pizza and specialty hot dogs and its many loyal sports fans. However, getting a real feel for Chicago can be difficult if you only hit the main attractions or you spend your entire trip in a single neighborhood. To gain a local's perspective, book a guided walking tour. Factoring in both traveler sentiment and expert opinion, U.S. News selected these seven tours as the best walking tours available in Chicago.

Inside Chicago – Open Your Eyes: Inside the Pedway & Other Secrets of the Loop

This two-hour tour takes you throughout the city's famous Pedway (an underground network of tunnels that connects more than 50 buildings) to see the details hidden in its architecture. During the 1 1/2-mile walk, you'll also see above-ground treasures, such as a Picasso statue and a 1920s-era church, and venture into a few buildings that connect to the Pedway. Throughout the tour, helpful guides share stories of the city. Reviewers call this tour informative and surprising. Walks are offered at 2 p.m. on Monday and Friday, and tickets start at $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and children ages 5 to 10. Other public tours from Inside Chicago include tours of individual neighborhoods and a seasonal Christmas outing.

[ View & Book Tickets .]

Chicago Food Planet – Gateway to the West Loop Food Tour

Chicago has long been considered one of America's best foodie destinations . To sample some of the city's best bites, consider this tour from Chicago Food Planet. Tastings rotate, but foods could include Mexican fare, doughnuts, pizza, meatballs, beer and hamburgers. As you eat your way through the West Loop, guides share stories about the neighborhood's history and culture. Travelers advise coming hungry as there are plenty of samples. Tour availability changes seasonally, but tours generally start at 1 p.m. several days a week and last three hours. Tickets start at $60, but you can upgrade your package to include three drink pairings for around $80 per person. Youths ages 12 and younger can also tag along for $35 each. Chicago Food Planet also offers tasty trips through Wrigleyville and Navy Pier , among other options.

Free Tours by Foot – Lincoln Park Blues and Gangster Tour

Ideal for visitors interested in an in-depth overview of Chicago's famous Lincoln Park neighborhood, this two-hour, mile-long walk earns high marks from reviewers. Guides teach patrons about the history of the neighborhood and the city's infamous gangsters while making stops at DePaul University, the Red Lion Pub and Oz Park, among other landmarks. Patrons say this trip is informative and that they loved seeing more of Lincoln Park. This tour is free to take, although you can decide to tip your guide however much you want at the end. Tour times and dates vary and reservations are required. Free Tours by Foot also operates tours of Millennium Park , a ghost tour and tours of the Riverwalk , among other options.

Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tour

Patrons say this guided walk is great fun and praise guides who expertly mix humor and gruesome stories. You will walk approximately 1 1/2 miles in two hours while exploring haunted locations and old crime scenes where some of the city's most famous misdeeds played out. Historians are your guide, so you will learn the real story behind shady deals and infamous Chicago gangsters like Al Capone. Tickets start at $27 for adults, $25 for seniors ages 65 and older and $17 for youth ages 7 to 17. Children ages 6 and younger can tour for free. Tours depart daily at 11 a.m. and at 1, 4 and 8 p.m.

Bobby's Bike Hike – Chinatown Food & Culture Walking Tour

Eat your way through Chinatown on this tour with Bobby's Bike Hike. In 2 1/2 hours, you'll sample delicacies that represent five different regions of China while guides share the history of Chinese immigration to Chicago. Tea, Szechuan chicken, hot pot, dim sum and baked goods are just some of the treats you could try during the trip. Patrons say the outing is full of incredible food and history. Prices vary depending on the day you tour, but you can expect to pay around $55 for adults and $50 for children. Tours depart at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Bobby’s Bike Hike also offers a dessert walking tour and various bike tours, among other options.

Free Chicago Walking Tours – Riverwalk & North Loop Tour

This two-hour tour details Chicago's history from the late 1600s to the present day, discussing the Revolutionary War, 1915's Eastland disaster and everything in between. As you walk, you'll see the Chicago River, the Jewelers Building, Heald Square Monument, the Chicago Cultural Center, Daley Plaza and an array of other important landmarks. Reviewers appreciate the pace of this tour and its knowledgeable, thoughtful guides. Your only cost is what you decide to tip your guide at the end. Free Chicago Walking Tours also operates trips through Millennium Park and walks that guide you through less touristy parts of the city, among others.

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What You Need To Know About Seeing The Sealed Up Freight Tunnels Under Chicago

There are many abandoned freight tunnels underneath Chicago, and one would never guess that these have been there for decades.

Beneath Chicago is a warren of abandoned tunnels. These are mostly 2-foot narrow-gauge railway freight tunnels that have since been abandoned. They run under downtown Chicago and operated entirely under central Chicago - although they never carried passengers. Intriguingly many of the first tunnels built were largely built in secrecy and for another purpose.

Over in New York City, they also have secret tunnels under the city , while Paris has a maze of queries and catacombs. Under London, there is one of the largest and most secretive networks of tunnels .

History And Evolution Of The Chicago Freight Tunnels

The history of the tunnels began in 1899 when the city of Chicago granted the rights to construct utility tunnels under its streets. These were to carry the planned network of telephone cables. This plan evolved to include rails for hauling cable spools through the tunnels.

  • Began: In 1899

At the time the city was largely unaware of the tunneling beneath the street and the first 16 miles or 26 kilometers of tunnels were excavated somewhat overly. Work would be conducted under a saloon and then the spoil would be taken away during the night.

  • Covert: The First Tunnels Were Constructed Somewhat Covertly
  • Original Purpose: For A Network Of Telephone Cables
  • Later Purpose: For Freight And Mail Service

The narrow-gauge railroad was used at first only for hauling out the debris from the tunnels and installing the cables.

But then they realized it could serve other purposes and in 1903 the use of the railroad was expanded for freight and mail service. In 1905 the system was taken over by a new company - the Illinois Tunnel Company. By 1905 some 26 miles or 42 kilometers had been built while the projected tunnels were expected to reach 60 miles or 97 kilometers.

  • Length: By 1914 They Were Around 60 Miles or 97 Kilometers Long

But by 1909 the costs of construction had bankrupted the Illinois Tunnel Company. In its time after being brought up, it was never really profitable. By 1920 all the telephone cables for which the project had started in the first place had been removed.

By 1914 around 60 miles had been constructed and 19 elevators connected the tunnels with customers and another five elevators service public stations where freight could be dropped off or be picked up.

  • Subway Tunnels: The Freight Tunnels Came Into Conflict With The Subway Tunnels

Eventually, the freight tunnels came into conflict with the subway that was built later on. In the 1930s the plans for the subway tunnels to follow the same route on State Street and Dearborn Street as the freight lines. The subway replaced the freight tunnels along that route.

Related: There's An Abandoned Subterranean City & Tunnel System Under Seattle, And Yes, You Can Visit

About The Chicago Freight Tunnels

The Chicago freight tunnels inspired the construction of the London Post Office Railway. They were built by the Chicago Tunnel Company for a network of little electric trains that crisscrossed the center of the city.

The tunnels serviced iconic buildings like the Board of Trade, City Hall, Merchandise Mart, Chicago Tribune, Civic Opera House, Field Museum, and more.

  • Operated: 1906 to 1959
  • Abandoned: In 1959

The freight lines were largely abandoned around 1959 and were then largely forgotten. But then in 1992, the city was given a painful reminder of these forgotten tunnels. Construction workers accidentally punctured one of the tunnel's roofs causing thousands of gallons of water to pour into the system. The end result was massive flooding in the buildings across the city. The damage is estimated to have been more than $2 Billion.

  • Height: Typically 7 Feet 6 Inches (2.3 Meters) High
  • Width: 6 Feet (1.83 Meters)
  • Gauge: 2 Foot Gauge (610 Mm)
  • Electric Locomotives: 132 Electric Locomotives Were Operated
  • Cars: 2,042 Merchandise, 350 Excavating, And 235 Coal and Ash Cars

Related: What You Need To Know About The Abandoned Speakeasy Tunnels Of Los Angeles

Tours And Visiting The Tunnels Today

Today unfortunately no one can enter them as they are all sealed off to the public. For those looking for a guided tour, Chicago Detours offers a range of tours around Chicago including private customized tours. It's unlikely they can offer tours of the tunnels themselves, but they can explain a great deal of their history and where they went from the surface.

  • Duration: 4 or 8 Hours
  • Guests: 2 to 200 Guests
  • Includes: Expert Tour Guide
  • Areas Toured: Customized to One's Interests
  • Cost: Starting At $425.00

While these freight tunnels may be the most intriguing of Chicago's underground tunnels, they aren't the only tunnels under Chicago. Chicago also has an underground sewer system, an underground pedestrian system, the deep tunnel system, and more. One can read about these on Chicago Detours' website.

Chicago is a city with a lot to see and do. Like many of America's other cities, it boasts many secrets. And has attractions that do not immediately meet the eye.

Next: An Entire 'Escape' Tunnel System Still Exists Under Berlin, With Decades Of History Behind Its Creation

6 Hidden Tunnels You Never Knew Were Beneath This Popular Illinois City

chicago tunnel tours

Elizabeth Crozier

An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.

More by this Author

There are at least six hidden tunnels beneath Chicago that all serve a different purpose. Not everyone knows these tunnels exist. Check them out:

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Do you know of any other hidden tunnels in Illinois? Share your knowledge with us below in the comments.

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Featured Addresses

Chicago Pedway:  Getting Around Town Underground

Chicago is a great walking city — even if you’re walking underground.  .

With Chicago’s Pedestrian Walkway system (Pedway), a six-mile system of underground tunnels, pathways and connected corridors, it’s possible to walk from one side of the Loop to the other without encountering traffic, nasty weather, special events or other obstacles.  The uncrowded, roof-protected, climate-controlled Pedway is the way to go.  It is one of Chicago’s unique “hidden” gems.

And it takes you to a lot of interesting places.  The following is a list of highlights encountered on our company’s Pedway tour throughout downtown Chicago:

Small Retail Shops

One of the delights of the Pedway is that some corridors feature a wide array of small retailers — a grilled cheese sandwich stop, a small tavern, doughnut shops, shoe repair, convenience stores, barber shops, and beauty salons.  If you enjoy the look and feel of small-town America, these sections of the Pedway are for you.

Fitness Centers

A handful of fitness centers/clubs are accessible via the Pedway.  At Randolph and Wabash is an LA Fitness with an indoor swimming pool that is accessible from the Pedway.  In the Lakeshore East neighborhood (east of Michigan Ave. and north of Randolph St.) is the Lakeshore Sports and Fitness Club.

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Macy’s Chicago

Macy’s Loop store, the second largest department store in the U.S., embraces the Pedway with four separate entrances at the sub-basement level, as well as a collection of 22 stained-glass windows that face the entrances on the opposite wall.  In addition to shopping, Macy’s offers the iconic Walnut Room (the nation’s oldest continuously operating department store restaurant) and a Tiffany-designed tile ceiling with 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass that is not to be missed.

City Hall/Cook County Building

If you have official business to take care of, the Pedway also goes to the City Hall/Cook County Building (Clark and Randolph Sts).  While you’re there you can get a lot of things done (especially if you don’t have to carry your heavy winter coat around).  You can visit Chicago’s mayor (if you’ve got enough clout to get past the guards in the lobby), pay your property taxes, apply for a liquor license, marvel at the fancy decor of the building, or get married.  That’s right, get married.  They’ve been marrying couples at City Hall for more than 100 years at Marriage Court, located on the Pedway at the north end of the building.  If you time your visit just right, you may be asked to serve as a witness by some lovestruck couple. 

chicago tunnel tours

Millennium Station

The Pedway enters Millennium Station (formerly Randolph St. Station) in different spots, including lower Michigan Ave., the Prudential Building and the Cultural Center.  If you need to catch a commuter train to Chicago’s southern suburbs or the South Shore Line to Gary or South Bend, Indiana, Millennium Station is your destination.  A wide variety of food and beverages are available here for hungry, thirsty travelers.

AMC Dine-In Movies

If you’d like to watch a movie and get a bite to eat at the same time, take the Pedway to the Block 37 building (Washington and State Sts.) and head toward AMC Dine-in Movies, one of several entertainment options connected to the Pedway.

Cultural Center

The easiest way to enter the Cultural Center from the Pedway is to find the “golden elevator,” and take it up one floor to the lobby of the building.  In addition to art exhibits, concerts, lectures and special events, the Cultural Center (Randolph St. and Michigan Ave.) is home to the world’s largest Tiffany Dome, as well as a second dome commissioned by the Grand Army of the Republic when the building was built (1895).

Chicago Cultural Center Dome

Red Line/Blue Line

Chicago’s two busiest L lines — the Red Line and the Blue Line — are not elevated when they pass through the Loop.  They are subways that run parallel to one another one block apart (on State St. and Dearborn St. respectively).  In 1951, two tunnels were dug between the two lines to enable passengers to cross from one line to the other.  These tunnels became the first sections of Chicago’s Pedway and also served as inspiration for the construction of the entire system.  To this day, these original Pedway tunnels are still in use, serving CTA passengers and Pedway walkers alike.

Chance the Rapper

Don’t miss a Pedway mural painted by student artists from the School of the Art Institute on lower Randolph St. (near Wabash).   The artists were asked to select a contemporary who was up and coming in the performing arts and include him/her in the mural.  They selected a then little-known artist — Chance the Rapper — now a global superstar who calls Chicago “home.”

chicago tunnel tours

Daley Plaza

If you exit the Randolph St. Pedway at Dearborn St. by ascending the adjoining greystone stairs, you’ll find yourself in the middle of Richard J. Daley Plaza, home to several Chicago landmarks.  Note the iconic, untitled sculpture by Pablo Picasso, a statue on Washington St. by Joan Miró, the Richard J. Daley Civic Center (offices and courtrooms) and the First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple, a 23-story Gothic-style building which houses “Chapel in the Sky,” the world’s highest place of worship.

Lakeshore East Hotels

East of Michigan Ave. and north of Randolph St. is a newer city neighborhood known as Lakeshore East.  If you’re interested in staying in a hotel that’s connected to the Pedway, this neighborhood has a wide array from which to choose — Swiss ô tel, Hyatt Regency, Fairmont, Radisson Blu Aqua and the St. Regis.

chicago tunnel tours

Located in the Pedway beneath the Prudential Building, Amazon Go allows you to purchase items without having to wait in line to check out.  All you need is your phone and the company’s app — you select your items and then simply walk out of the store.  It’s hassle free and convenient — just like the Pedway.

Harris Theatre

If you want to see a show and don’t want to travel outside to get there, take the Pedway east to Randolph St. and visit the Harris Theatre, Chicago’s home for music and dance productions of all types.  The Harris Theatre is located at the north end of Millennium Park.

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Duration: 3.5 hours

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  • Tour begins and ends in the Loop.
  • Walking distance: 1.5 miles

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  • Price includes transit fees. Food/beverages purchased by guests.
  • Walking distance: 1.1 miles

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Underground Chicago Tour (Plus Rats!) Takes Visitors On A Stroll Through Chicago’s Underbelly

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DOWNTOWN — Mike McMains, a Chicagoan known for his unique walking tours of the city, is going underground — and you can come along.

McMains’ Underground Chicago (Plus Rats!) Tour will showcase the city’s hidden underside and discuss how urban wildlife — namely rats — are a part of Chicago’s history. It’s set to kickoff July 22 and tickets are $30.

The 90-minute tour starts at the Ulta Beauty on the Magnificent Mile at 430 N. Michigan Ave. and ends at the Monroe Red Line stop, with several underground stops in between. McMains will discuss how Chicago’s history and architecture are closely intertwined with the rats who also call it home.

McMains, who operates Tours With Mike , often highlights Chicago’s architecture, design and history in tongue-in-cheek ways.

“For a long time, I’ve been fascinated by Chicago’s layers, that you have so much complexity going on above and below what the surface,” McMains said.

The idea for the tour originally came from a man who’d attended one of McMains’ Ugly Building tours , which highlights some of Chicago’s unsightly buildings.

chicago tunnel tours

He reached out to McMains to see if there was a tour that discusses the city’s rat history — inspired by his 10-year-old cousin’s fascination with the creatures. McMains himself already had an interest in Chicago’s underground streets, Pedway system and subway stations, and was looking for a way to make them more interesting for a tour.

“I was super excited and … the thing that I really loved about it is that you have a 10-year-old with a very unconventional interest,” McMains said. “And I just love that the family was coming together to rally behind this kid and say, ‘Hey, we’re not going to try to steer you towards something else so that you gonna blend in with society; we want to nurture and support your quirks and your interests.’ I love that they were like, ‘Hey, can you do this?’ I’m just like, ‘Absolutely, I want to do this.’”

For the tour, McMains heavily researched rat anatomy, behavior, and living patterns, including how the Norway brown rat made its way to Chicago from Asia centuries ago. McMains said he believes that rats are a great entryway to discussing Chicago’s underground history, especially since the species reflects some of the city’s best attributes. 

“I really think that rats are so interconnected with the story of Chicago in that they’re adaptable, they’re resilient, they’re scrappy, and their fates are thoroughly interconnected with each other,” McMains said.

“If I didn’t get that random email earlier this year, I don’t think I would be doing this tour. I needed that spark in order to focus on the amazing underground infrastructure Chicago has. You need a story that binds it together, and those are rats.”

Stops on the tour include the Billy Goat Tavern at Lower Michigan Avenue, the Riverwalk and ports of Chicago, the history of the Downtown’s produce markets, the Illinois Central Railroad including Metra and CTA stations and more. People can also expect to see the parts of the Chicago Pedway and Wacker Drive where Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” was filmed. 

chicago tunnel tours

McMains said it’s unlikely any rats will show up for the tour, since they’re most active after sunset. But there will be visual aids along the route to help discuss rats and their place in Chicago’s underground layers. There will also be plenty of rat traps to spot as well, he said. 

McMains also has tours of Chicago’s best architectural hits, the Riverwalk and notable city interiors, plus app-based and virtual tours for those unable to make in-person walking tours or who want to take the lead themselves. 

Public tours are available 1 p.m. on most Fridays and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Private tours can also be booked online. 

chicago tunnel tours

McMains said people should expect an experience unlike any other tour that they’ve had before.

“Rats, sometimes rightly, have a negative image about them, people have a negative image of them,” McMains said. “But I think that they’re just absolutely fascinating creatures. 

“To be able to have that interest in rats and how they’re just so compelling with their adaptations and everything, and how they’re just so connected to humans having that going with this ingenuity that we have in Chicago with these underground streets, underground subway stations with these underground pedestrian tunnels, it just it really clicks and fits together really well and I’m super excited to debut this tour to the public.”

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What Secrets Does A Museum Have In The Basement?

Maia McDonald

Twitter @maiamcdonld More by Maia McDonald

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chicago-pedway

A visitor’s guide to navigating the Chicago Pedway System

Last updated on September 3, 2019 by Amanda Scotese

When we venture downtown, with the snow of winter or the humidity of summer, the Chicago Pedway System comes in handy. This mostly underground system of passages connects buildings so that you can walk downtown while avoiding the elements.

You know you’re in the Pedway System when you see this symbol. In this network of passages that connect buildings, train stations, and parking lots, you find government offices, food courts, and most importantly during wintertime — warmth. As part of downtown infrastructure, the Pedway eases foot traffic on street level and provides a quicker route, as you don’t have to wait at any stoplights. Pretty much everyone you pass is in a hurry like you.

That is, if you know where you’re going.  A few maps of the Underground Pedway System are out there, but some only show the location of the passages, which isn’t enough to help the unfamiliar user confidently access this system of passages that goes both underground and above street level.

A different approach to map-making is necessary to elucidate the Pedway System. This map designed by my tour company, Chicago Detours, is a helpful guide with the user experience in mind as it includes all kinds of tips on navigating the system. In addition to showing the passages, this map marks all stairways and buildings that connect with the Pedway to explicitly show where people are permitted to enter a building . Check out the two-page map and you’ll find where to access the 40-plus-block-long network of passages, the disparate open hours for different sections, and tips on navigating the system.

Pedway Map - Blog - Detours

While some suspect that the Chicago Pedway System involves underground tunnels that connect buildings downtown, really they are not tunnels but passages, like hallways, that create a network between buildings and places of transport.

The Pedway provides a convenient escape from Chicago’s challenging weather. However, it is not necessarily a space where you would want to spend an afternoon. The mostly underground system is essentially a basement (see the area by Macy’s pictured below), and you’ll find better architectural eye candy on street-level. What’s really exciting about the Pedway is the discovery that the city is navigable in spaces under our feet. It’s about uncovering the unseen layers of the city.

Beyond Chicago Detours , which offers an interior architectural tour that includes magnificent lobbies, other tour companies venture underground. Comedian Margaret Hicks of Chicago Elevated , aka the “Pedway Lady,” knows every inch of the system and offers tours of the Pedway several days a week.

  • # Chicago architecture

Amanda Scotese

About Amanda Scotese

Amanda Scotese started the tour company Chicago Detours , so she can have a legitimate excuse for wandering Chicago and geeking out on architecture. She dug in to anything Chicago, especially architecture and urban geography, through the Masters of Arts Program in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. Her travel writing has appeared in Rick Steves’ Italy travel guidebooks, Trazzler, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and the Chicago Detours blog .

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The Deep Tunnel: A Virtual Tour

April 27, 2021

MWRD Virtual Tour

Event resources.

Register on Zoom

Event Flyer (PDF)

Resources and Recommendations

  • About the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago
  • A Brief History of Chicago's Water Management by Daniel Simantob
  • Where Does Your Poop Go?
  • Chicago Futures: The Blue City 
  • MWRD 5 Year Strategic Plan
  • Waters' Metropolis: Environmental Justice and Equity in Chicago
  • Program on the Global Environment 
  • UChicago ECo

Created in 1889 as the Sanitary District of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) today is an award-winning, special-purpose district responsible for treating wastewater and providing stormwater management for residents and businesses in its service area, which encompasses 882.1 square miles and includes Chicago and 128 suburban communities throughout Cook County. The MWRD serves approximately 10.35 million people each day, including 5.25 million residents. As the protector of our water resources, the MWRD continues to work diligently to protect Lake Michigan, the source of our drinking water, as well as the health and safety of citizens and area waterways. Some of the MWRD’s most notable achievements are reversing the flow of the Chicago and Calumet River Systems in the early 1900s, the construction of the North Shore Channel and the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, which is also known as “TARP” or "Deep Tunnel.”

For this event, travel back in time to early Chicago to see how the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago reversed the Chicago River and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and under water to see how MWRD transforms the water you use every day; descend 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch the electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River. This event is co-sponsored by the  Program on the Global Environment , and organized as part of  UChicago ECo ,  a platform aimed at fostering connection among and support for the University of Chicago’s  E nvironmental  Co mmunity.  Register on Zoom.

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Today is the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Flood

  • April 13, 2017

April 13, 1992 was a deeply strange day in Chicago history. By mid-morning the city center was emptied of people, something likely not seen since the Great Fire of 1871. Hundreds of thousands of workers were sent home. Venerable institutions like the Board of Trade shuttered. The city lost billions in productivity. All because, below street grade, 250 million gallons of water from the Chicago River were coursing through downtown . It was the great Chicago flood and it was a classic Chicago fiasco , which I always enjoy sharing during our private downtown tours . I was also lucky enough to share this bit of history on WBEZ .

We research stories from Chicago history, architecture and culture like this while developing our  live virtual tours ,   in-person private tours , and  custom content for corporate events . You can join us to experience Chicago’s stories in-person or online. We can also create  custom tours and original conten t about this Chicago topic and countless others.

How’d the Chicago Flood Happen?

Chicago flood 1992 kinzie Street bridge

The Chicago flood began when a construction crew drove a new wooden piling into the Chicago River near the Kinzie Street Bridge. In doing so, they inadvertently drove a hole into the roof of a long-neglected tunnel. This was just a part of the larger Chicago Tunnel Company system, created in the early 20th Century.

This network of tunnels bored through the clay 40 feet below the city streets. Originally planned to carry telephone lines, they eventually carried everything from retail packages to coal ash. The system was incredibly large, covering over 60 miles in downtown Chicago at its peak. Competition from the trucking industry eventually drove the Chicago Tunnel Company out of business and their warren of tunnels was mostly forgotten. Until April 1992, that is.

The Slow-Motion Disaster of the Chicago Flood

The Chicago flood didn’t start in a flash. In fact, the leaks started over six months prior, in September 1991. A cable company worker noticed water entering the tunnels in January 1992. A city electrical technician examined the leak and even took video footage. He alerted his superiors, but City Hall rejected a $10,000 repair bid as too costly. They planned to have another contractor do an inspection on April 14. Welp.

The roof of the tunnel gave way in the early morning of April 13 and the Chicago flood was on.

Larry Langford, an overnight radio reported for WMAQ, broke the story. He heard someone on a police scanner exclaim that there were fish in the water flooding the Merchandise Mart. Thinking quickly, he drove over to the Kinzie Street Bridge, looked down at the river, and saw a whirlpool. He reported his find on the air and city vehicles of all stripes descended on the site within moments.

Lots of Water and Lots of Money Go Down the Drain

Chicago flood 1992 Chicago Tunnel system map 1910

Contractors dug an emergency hole and filled it with debris and concrete to stop the flood. Supposedly, workers even flung mattresses into the river in the hope that the suction would block the breach. I can only hope that was true! But 250 million gallons of river water had already rushed through the tunnels. Those waters could have shorted out sub-stations and power lines, collapsed the Grant Park North parking garage, and destroyed merchandise and archives in basements. All non-emergency workers evacuated downtown for their own safety.

Eventually, workers drained the flood waters into the Deep Tunnel System. In the meantime, businesses suffered nearly $2 billion in damages. The waters got up to 25 feet deep in some areas, creating images from that day which are deeply surreal. According to reports, food court furniture was floating across the Thompson Center ‘s atrium.

Finger pointing began immediately, of course. Investigations eventually blamed the City of Chicago itself for the flood. They had not inspected or repaired the tunnels and leaks despite plenty of warning. Hilariously, the contractor whose work set off the whole fiasco got a light penalty because of the vagaries of Admiralty Law .

Fortunately, we have not had a repeat flood since then. The watertight bulkheads the city installed in the tunnels might have something to do with it. If you’d like to learn more about Chicago’s many layers, we explore some of the areas affected by the Chicago flood on our Downtown Bucket List private tour . It’s also the sort of story we’d love to turn into an original animation with our new content production team .

– Alex Bean, Content Manager and Tour Guide

ABOUT CHICAGO DETOURS

Chicago Detours is a boutique tour company passionate about connecting people to places and each other through the power of storytelling. We bring curious people to explore, learn and interact with Chicago’s history, architecture and culture through  in-person private group tours ,  content production , and  virtual tours .

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Private Tour Coordinator and Tour Guide

There is no shortage of things to discover in Chicago—I love being an urban explorer and uncovering its hidden places. I have an MA in Public History from Loyola University Chicago, and I have worked as a museum educator and kindergarten teacher. My desire to learn new things fuels my passion for educating others, which I get to experience every day as a Chicago tour guide. I live in the northern neighborhood of Rogers Park.

chicago tunnel tours

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, the vibrant history and modern majesty of Chicago never ceases to amaze. I’m a graduate of Columbia College with an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Art. I’ve worked for many years as an educator at City Colleges of Chicago. As tour guide at Chicago Detours, I integrate my enthusiasm for culture and architecture with my passion as an educator. West Town/Noble Square area is home for me.

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With our Chicago neighborhoods, vibrant cultural institutions and nearly two centuries of larger-than-life stories, there’s never a dull moment here! I’m a fifth generation Chicagoan and a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to guiding tours, I’m a creative writer and amateur genealogist. I also enjoy the city’s dynamic theater scene. You can also read overlooked stories from 19th-century newspapers on my “Second Glance History” blog. I live in River North.

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Chicago is unique as it always evolves into the future while holding on to the past. I’m fascinated by how people latch on to old architecture but happily pave over others. My background is in theater and performance and I’ve been a tour guide here for more than 10 years. Currently I’m finishing my Master’s in Public History at Loyola University because I love to teach the history of this scrappy city. I’m in the Edgewater neighborhood.

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Operations Coordinator and Tour Guide

Chicago’s history is so fascinating, you could spend a lifetime uncovering its secrets…I’m willing to give it a try! I have an M.A. in US History from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and then pursued doctoral studies in Urban History at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I love to learn new aspects of Chicago’s rich history and then share my knowledge as a tour guide with Chicago Detours. I live in Ravenswood.

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Content Manager and Tour Guide

Chicago has so many neighborhoods, buildings, and by-ways that it’s hard to go long without seeing something new, or something familiar from a new angle. I studied Cinema History for my M.A. from the University of Chicago. I’ve worked as a culture writer for various publications and as an educator of the humanities at the City Colleges of Chicago. I’m thrilled to share my love of this city’s busy past and unique architectural spaces with Chicago Detours. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park.

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Amanda Scotese

Executive director and tour guide, book a chicago event.

Let’s Connect!

IMAGES

  1. 33. The Digging of the Deep Tunnel Begins

    chicago tunnel tours

  2. After 40 years, Chicago's Calumet Deep Tunnel project is complete

    chicago tunnel tours

  3. Exploring Chicago's underground tunnels

    chicago tunnel tours

  4. Touring the Deep Tunnel and Thornton Quarry

    chicago tunnel tours

  5. Part of Chicago's deep tunnel system, 350 feet underground. The

    chicago tunnel tours

  6. The Secret $4BN Tunnel Network Under Chicago

    chicago tunnel tours

COMMENTS

  1. Underground Chicago (Plus Rats!)

    These fascinating creatures have a lot in common with Chicago: they're scrappy, they're adaptable, they're resilient, and their fates are thoroughly interconnected. Underground Chicago (Plus Rats!) is a fun, one-of-a-kind tour experience where you'll explore an underground labyrinth discovering features people rarely notice and the ...

  2. Underground Chicago: Exploring The Hidden Layers of the City

    The most user-friendly layer of Chicago's underground is the Pedway System. The term "Pedway" is a conjunction word formed from "pedestrian way.". A busy city like Chicago is always looking for ways to drop syllables for efficiency! Functionally, the Pedway is a collection of hallways in basements which connect buildings, train ...

  3. Explore Chicago's hidden underground

    Abandoned freight tunnels. Chicago is known for its elevated train lines, but lesser known is the network of century-old freight tunnels that criss-cross beneath the city. ... the Calumet station and several other points of the system are open to the public for tours. Underground bars. While some aspects of Chicago's underground are difficult ...

  4. Explore Chicago's Mysterious Tunnel System With This Tour

    The tour ends with the "secret" interior of the Art Institute where guests are well positioned to explore more of downtown Chicago after the tour. Cost: Adults $30.00, Children $25.00. Duration: Around 2 Hours. Distance: Around 1.5 Miles Of Walking. Group Size: Up To 15 People.

  5. OPEN YOUR EYES

    Come experience Chicago's famous "Pedway" - the mysterious underground tunnels downtown that keep us all warm & dry in bad weather. Walking in the Pedway, through hidden corridors of stained glass and even past underground swimming pools, we'll access interiors that seem to come up out of nowhere as you're exploring the tunnels.

  6. A walk through Chicago Pedway: Explore downtown's underground tunnel

    History of Chicago's underground tunnel system. The Chicago Pedestrian Walkway System works in conjunction with street level paths that connect to almost 50 buildings in the Loop. The longest ...

  7. Chicago Underground Tours

    Pedway Roots. Chicago underground tours connect past and present beneath Windy City streets. In the days of the Prohibition, Chicago gangsters like Al Capone used underground tunnels for illicit ...

  8. Chicago: Underground Pedway & Downtown Secrets Walking Tour

    This tour has a moderate level of physical activity: a handful of staircases, and about 1.5 miles of walking. Tour takes place rain or shine, staying mostly indoors to where we can keep warm in cold or rainy weather, or cool in hot weather. Likely to sell out. From $35 per person.

  9. Chicago Indoor Walking Tour: Discover Chicago's Underground City

    Overview. Discover a lesser-known side of the Windy City on this Chicago Pedway tour, a walking excursion through the many heated passageways, tunnels, and corridors that link some of the town's most iconic buildings. Follow your humorous guide on an insider's exploration of these relatively unknown walkways, learning about the area's ...

  10. Underground Chicago Walking Tour of the Pedway

    The Underground Chicago Walk is a tour through Chicago's pedway, a little-known underground tunnel system in the heart of downtown Chicago — with food samples included. It may sound scary but fear not, the recently rehabbed tunnels are used by thousands of savvy locals every day. Purchase half-price tickets to this event.

  11. Six Tunnels Hidden Under Chicago's Loop

    3. Freight tunnels. Of all the tunnels under the Loop, the 60 miles of freight tunnels 40 feet underground are the most extensive. They also happen to be unique to Chicago. Dug by a private ...

  12. Chicago Pedway Tour Page 1 of 0| Underground

    The Pedway is a series of mostly indoor tunnels, bridges, and paths throughout downtown Chicago. Construction of this labyrinth began in 1951 to simply connect the Red and Blue line subway/'L' train stops. Now it connects over 50 buildings, 40 blocks, and 5 miles of pathways. While on this tour, we will see Chicago's famous architecture while ...

  13. Chicago's Freight Tunnels: the Forgotten Underground

    Even when the tunnels were in use few people of the city of Chicago knew they existed beyond those who used them. When completed nearly sixty-two miles of tunnels criss-crossed underneath the city. The tunnels were six feet wide and 7.5 feet high with one-foot thick concrete walls. Overhead trolley wires powered them.

  14. The 6 Best Chicago Walking Tours

    May 1, 2020, at 8:25 a.m. The 6 Best Chicago Walking Tours. Courtesy of Steven Sabourin | Inside Chicago. Discover the hidden details of the Windy City's famed architecture with a tour from Inside ...

  15. What You Need To Know About Seeing The Sealed Up Freight Tunnels Under

    Cost: Starting At $425.00. While these freight tunnels may be the most intriguing of Chicago's underground tunnels, they aren't the only tunnels under Chicago. Chicago also has an underground sewer system, an underground pedestrian system, the deep tunnel system, and more. One can read about these on Chicago Detours' website.

  16. 6 Hidden Tunnels In Chicago, Illinois No One Knows Exist

    There are at least six hidden tunnels beneath Chicago that all serve a different purpose. Not everyone knows these tunnels exist. Check them out: 1. The Pedway System. Wikimedia Commons/Jaysin Trevino. This system of passageways connects about 50 office buildings, shopping centers, parking areas, and train stations in the Chicago downtown area.

  17. Forgotten Tunnels Under Chicago

    » JOIN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE HISTORY KNOWLEDGE!Write us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/ITSHISTORYfb» SUPPORT US ON PATREON!https://www.patreon.com/blastfromthep...

  18. Chicago Pedway: Getting Around Town Underground

    May 15, 2023. Chicago is a great walking city — even if you're walking underground. With Chicago's Pedestrian Walkway system (Pedway), a six-mile system of underground tunnels, pathways and connected corridors, it's possible to walk from one side of the Loop to the other without encountering traffic, nasty weather, special events or ...

  19. Underground Chicago Tour (Plus Rats!) Takes Visitors On A Stroll

    DOWNTOWN — Mike McMains, a Chicagoan known for his unique walking tours of the city, is going underground — and you can come along. McMains' Underground Chicago (Plus Rats!) Tour will showcase the city's hidden underside and discuss how urban wildlife — namely rats — are a part of Chicago's history. It's set to kickoff July 22 ...

  20. A visitor's guide to navigating the Chicago Pedway System

    A different approach to map-making is necessary to elucidate the Pedway System. This map designed by my tour company, Chicago Detours, is a helpful guide with the user experience in mind as it includes all kinds of tips on navigating the system. In addition to showing the passages, this map marks all stairways and buildings that connect with ...

  21. The Deep Tunnel: A Virtual Tour

    Some of the MWRD's most notable achievements are reversing the flow of the Chicago and Calumet River Systems in the early 1900s, the construction of the North Shore Channel and the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, which is also known as "TARP" or "Deep Tunnel.". For this event, travel back in time to early Chicago to see how the Metropolitan ...

  22. Today is the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Flood

    Today is the 25th Anniversary of the Chicago Flood. April 13, 2017. April 13, 1992 was a deeply strange day in Chicago history. By mid-morning the city center was emptied of people, something likely not seen since the Great Fire of 1871. Hundreds of thousands of workers were sent home.