The Postcard Tour
Chicago's greatest hits — and the stories behind them. A river that flows backward, buildings covered in stolen rocks, towers that look like corn cobs, and a giant bean made by a man who wishes you'd stop calling it a bean.
View in App — $9.99What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 1h 15m · ~2.4 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 13 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
13 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"This is Chicago. You've seen it in movies. You've seen it on postcards. Or more likely, Instagram. Now you'll see it in person. You're going to see a river that flows backward because Chicago didn't like where the sewage was going."
"That's the tour. You just walked through Chicago's greatest hits — and you heard some things that were absolutely true and some things I made up. REAL: The city reversed the river to send sewage to Saint Louis. They got sued. They won."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 1Introduction Read this stop
- 2Riverwalk — Big Flush Read this stop
- 3Riverwalk — Modern Read this stop
- 4Marina City Read this stop
- 5Wrigley Building Read this stop
- 6Tribune Tower Read this stop
- 7Water Tower Read this stop
- 8Chicago Theatre Read this stop
- 9Chicago Cultural Center Read this stop
- 10Art Institute Lions Read this stop
- 11Crown Fountain Read this stop
- 12Cloud Gate (The Bean) Read this stop
- 13The Reveal Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The Chicago city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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