Chicago: Vice, Crime and Gangsters Self-Guided Audio Tour

Chicago’s notorious past comes alive in the ‘Vice, Crime and Gangsters Self-Guided Audio Tour.’ Guided by an urban historian, this immersive experience transports visitors through the city’s dark underbelly, where opium dens, gambling resorts, and squalid boarding houses once thrived. Offering flexibility to explore the gritty details at one’s own pace, the tour promises to uncover the captivating stories that have long been shrouded in the city’s history. With a circular route through the River North and northern Loop neighborhoods, this self-guided adventure provides a unique opportunity to explore the very heart of Chicago’s underworld.

Key Points

• Immersive tour revealing Chicago’s notorious past of crime, vice, and infamous gangsters, guided by urban historian and author Richard Junger.
• Tour explores a circular route through River North and northern Loop neighborhoods, uncovering stories of opium dens, gambling resorts, and squalid boarding houses.
• Flexible self-guided experience with a 75-minute route and the option to linger at various stops to delve deeper into the stories.
• Virtual tour option available, with GPS-enabled playback, multimedia content, and the ability to complete the tour at one’s own pace.
• Tour accessible via public transportation and with ample parking options, providing easy access to the starting location.

Tour Overview

This self-guided audio tour immerses visitors in Chicago’s notorious past, revealing the city’s dark history of crime, vice, and infamous gangsters.

As you follow a circular route through the River North and northern Loop neighborhoods, you’ll uncover stories of opium dens, gambling resorts, and squalid boarding houses.

Guided by the insights of urban historian and author Richard Junger, the tour offers a flexible experience – you can complete the 75-minute route or linger at key stops along the way.

With GPS-enabled playback, the tour brings this seedy underworld to life, transporting you back in time through Chicago’s crooked past.

The tour is available in English and can be downloaded before or after booking for unlimited access.

Highlights

The audio tour offers a captivating look into Chicago’s notorious past, highlighting the city’s seedy underworld of crime, vice, and infamous gangsters. Listeners can dive deep into stories of opium trade, gambling resorts, and squalid boarding houses, guided by the insightful commentary of urban historian and author Richard Junger. With a flexible 75-minute runtime, the tour provides an immersive experience, allowing visitors to fully explore the city’s crooked history at their own pace.

Highlights
Stories of opium trade, vices, and a shanty town	Insights from producer Richard Junger, an urban historian and author	Flexible experience – complete the 75-minute tour or linger at stops along the way
Unlimited access before and after booking date	Virtual tour option available	–

Tour Stops

Along the tour’s circular route through the River North and northern Loop neighborhoods, visitors encounter a range of landmarks that illuminate Chicago’s notorious history of crime and vice.

From brothels and bagnios to gambling resorts and squalid boarding houses, the tour immerses participants in the city’s seedy underworld.

The tour stops at the former sites of cheap saloons that catered to the city’s working class, as well as squatter settlements where the destitute sought shelter.

Participants also learn about the opium trade and other illicit activities that thrived in this era.

Through these immersive experiences, the tour offers a glimpse into the shady underbelly of Chicago’s past.

Meeting Points

To access the tour, participants can reach the starting points via various public transportation options. The CTA L lines offer convenient access, with the State/Lake station being a primary meeting point. Alternatively, visitors can take CTA buses #19 or #6, or use Millennium Station which serves the CTA Metra Electric lines and Indiana South Shore Railway.

For those driving, nearby parking garages, such as the one under Millennium Park at 5 S. Columbus Drive, provide convenient options.

The tour’s meeting points offer:

• Easy access to public transportation
• Proximity to the tour’s starting location
• Ample parking options for those driving to the tour

This array of transportation choices ensures that the tour is accessible to a wide range of visitors, making it easy to take in Chicago’s captivating history of vice, crime, and gangsters.

Virtual Tour Option

For those unable to physically visit Chicago, this self-guided audio tour offers a virtual option, allowing participants to experience the city’s storied past of vice, crime, and gangsters from the comfort of their own homes. The virtual tour provides the same immersive experience as the in-person version, with GPS-enabled playback guiding listeners through the historical landmarks and stories. Whether you’re intrigued by the tales of opium trade, gambling resorts, or infamous gangsters, this virtual tour delivers an engaging and informative journey through Chicago’s crooked past, without the need to travel to the Windy City.

Virtual Tour Experience	Description
Audio Playback	GPS-enabled for a seamless experience
Multimedia Content	Explore stories and insights through audio
Flexible Pacing	Complete the tour in one sitting or revisit stops

Tour Duration

The self-guided audio tour covers a 75-minute route through the River North and northern Loop neighborhoods of Chicago, allowing participants to enjoy the city’s storied past at their own pace.

Along the way, explorers can:

• Linger at various stops to delve deeper into the salacious tales of opium dens, gambling resorts, and sordid brothels that once dotted the landscape
• Take in the tour at a leisurely tempo, with the flexibility to complete the full experience or cherry-pick their favorite highlights

Discover the gritty details of Chicago’s underworld as narrated by urban historian and author Richard Junger, whose insights bring this shadowy chapter of the city’s history to life.

Download Instructions

Users can download the self-guided audio tour through the VoiceMap smartphone app, either before or after booking their experience. The app provides the necessary GPS-enabled playback to seamlessly guide participants along the circular route through Chicago’s River North and northern Loop neighborhoods.

With the tour available in English only, travelers can enjoy the flexibility to complete the 75-minute experience in one go or linger at the various stops, which include landmarks like the Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, and Merchandise Mart.

Whether visitors are interested in the city’s notorious history of crime, gangsters, and vice or simply seeking an immersive sightseeing adventure, this self-guided audio tour offers an engaging and convenient way to explore Chicago’s crooked past.

Tour Language

This self-guided audio tour is currently available in English only, catering to a broad international audience seeking to enjoy Chicago’s captivating underworld history. This linguistic focus ensures a streamlined and coherent narrative, allowing listeners to fully engage with the tour’s vivid storytelling and historical insights without the potential for confusion or distraction that multiple language options could introduce.

The English-only format reflects the tour’s commitment to providing an immersive and seamless experience, inviting participants to step into the shoes of those who lived through Chicago’s notorious past.

This decision also allows the tour’s producer, Richard Junger, to delve deeply into the nuances and complexities of the city’s criminal history, delivering a richly detailed account that resonates with listeners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tour Available on Weekends Only?

The tour is available daily, not just on weekends. Guests can complete the 75-minute self-guided experience at their convenience, with the flexibility to explore stops along the route at their own pace.

What Is the Dress Code for the Tour?

There is no specific dress code for this self-guided audio tour. Visitors can wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking around the city. The tour is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to explore at their own pace.

Can I Bring My Pet on the Tour?

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on this self-guided audio tour. The tour is designed for a solo or group walking experience, and the safety and comfort of all participants must be prioritized. Leaving pets at home is recommended.

Is the Tour Wheelchair Accessible?

The tour is generally wheelchair accessible, with several stops along the route that can be easily navigated by those using mobility devices. However, some historic buildings may have limited access. It’s best to check with the tour provider for specific accessibility details.

Can I Take Photos During the Tour?

Yes, participants are generally allowed to take photos during the tour. The self-guided nature of the experience allows flexibility for visitors to capture memorable moments along the route at their own pace.

Recap

The ‘Chicago: Vice, Crime and Gangsters Self-Guided Audio Tour’ offers a captivating journey through the city’s notorious past.

Guided by an expert historian, visitors can enjoy stories of Chicago’s darker underworld, exploring the gritty details of opium dens, gambling resorts, and squalid boarding houses at their own pace.

Whether in-person or through the virtual tour option, this experience provides a flexible and engaging way to uncover the city’s shadowy history.