Our Story
Spectacular sights and stories
Since 1939, Shoreline Sightseeing has been showcasing the city of Chicago.
From shoreline to skyline, there’s no better way to see Chicago’s world-famous architecture than from a Shoreline Sightseeing boat. Our fleet of 11 touring vessels and 7 water taxis is the largest in the city, and our many tours offer amazing views of the city’s famous landmarks with incredible stories told by our guides to match. Choose the tour that suits your schedule, then sit back, relax, and enjoy Chicago!
Hear the history
Our expert tour guides are fun, friendly people who truly love showing off the city of Chicago. Each Shoreline guide goes through an extensive training process to learn all about Chicago’s famous landmarks, but even before they join us, many know the architecture and history of the city inside and out. They make every Shoreline tour fun, exciting, and informative, the ideal guides for your tour around the city!
“Our tour guide was Josh, and he delivered his information in both an easy-to-understand and humorous way.”
“I’ve been to Chicago a few times, but this tour offered a new perspective. A great way to kick off a trip to Chicago and Antonio was amazing!”
More boats, more tours
Uncle Jim Martin wouldn’t believe how much our fleet has grown since he started Shoreline way back in 1939. Today, we operate 11 major touring vessels and 7 water taxis, making our fleet the largest in Chicago.
We’re proud of our boats, many of which we custom-built to offer the best sightseeing experiences for our guests. Give us a wave when you see our red, white, and blue boats on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan!
Commuting made fun
Shoreline’s water taxis are the fast and fun way to get to Chicago’s top attractions. Beloved by commuters and visitors alike, our water taxis aren’t tours, but they are a great way to get around town.
Our water taxi service begins in May and runs through September, with additional service throughout the spring and fall for special events.
The Shoreline story
1939
Shoreline Sightseeing launches onto Lake Michigan
Jim Martin launches Shoreline Sightseeing offering twenty-five cent speed boat rides that left from the Shedd Aquarium out onto Lake Michigan.
1949
Jim buys the Blue Dog
Jim sells his speedboats and buys the company’s first large touring vessel: the Blue Dog.
1950
George Martin joins Shoreline
Jim’s brother George Martin joins the business and runs Shoreline Sightseeing for the next 25 years.
1960
Shoreline comissions the Marlyn
To meet growing demand, Shoreline commissions the Marlyn, the first tour boat to display the well known red, white, and blue of its fleet.
1978
Charles Collopy takes the wheel
George’s nephew, Charles Collopy, takes over the business.
1996
Shoreline adds water taxis
Shoreline adds a fleet of water taxis to help guests visit Chicago’s most famous landmarks.
1999
The Architecture Tour debuts
Shoreline’s popular Architecture Tour debuts, leaving from Navy Pier.
2002
A new generation takes over
Charles’ sons, Chip and Matt, become owners of Shoreline Sightseeing.
2014
Shoreline grows to Chicago’s largest fleet
Shoreline now has Chicago’s largest fleet, with 11 major touring vessels and 7 water taxis.
2016
Shoreline adds the Michigan Ave. Dock
Shoreline adds the Michigan Avenue dock to support even more Architecture Tours.
Why Shoreline Sightseeing is One of Chicago’s Classic Boat Tour Experiences
Shoreline Sightseeing has been part of Chicago’s waterfront story since 1939, when the company first began offering boat rides from the Shedd Aquarium on Lake Michigan. Today, we continue to help visitors and locals experience the city from the water through guided tours, skyline cruises, and water taxi service.
For anyone looking for a Chicago boat tour, Shoreline Sightseeing offers a unique combination of local history, experienced guides, and convenient access to some of the city’s most recognizable attractions. From the Chicago River to Lake Michigan, our tours are designed to make the city’s architecture, skyline, and waterfront easier to see and understand.
Whether you are visiting Chicago for the first time or showing the city to friends and family, a Shoreline Sightseeing tour gives you a memorable way to connect with the stories, landmarks, and views that define the city.
See Chicago Attractions from the Water
Many of the best Chicago attractions are located near the river, lakefront, or downtown waterfront. A Shoreline boat tour lets you enjoy those sights from a different perspective, with skyline views, landmark buildings, bridges, and lakefront scenery all part of the experience.
For visitors comparing fun things to do in Chicago, sightseeing by boat is one of the easiest ways to see more of the city without planning multiple stops across downtown. You can relax on the water, listen to local stories, and enjoy views that are difficult to capture from the street.
Shoreline also offers several ways to experience Chicago from the water. Guests can choose an architecture-focused river tour, a skyline cruise on Lake Michigan, a history tour that connects the river and lake, or a water taxi ride between key downtown destinations.
Why Take a Chicago River Tour with Shoreline Sightseeing?
A Chicago river tour is one of the best ways to experience the city’s architecture because the river brings you close to the buildings, bridges, and stories that shaped downtown Chicago. From the water, the skyline feels more connected, and the city’s design becomes easier to appreciate.
Shoreline’s guides help bring that experience to life. Each guide is trained in Chicago’s architecture, history, and landmarks, creating a tour that is informative, engaging, and accessible for both first-time visitors and returning guests.
If you are looking for one of the best things to do in Chicago on the water, a Shoreline river tour offers the right mix of sightseeing, storytelling, and local perspective.
Explore More Ways to Experience Chicago from the Water
In addition to river tours, Shoreline offers other ways to make the water part of your Chicago plans. The Skyline Lake Tour gives guests wide views of the city from Lake Michigan, while the Lake and River Chicago History Tour connects river, lake, and historic sightseeing in one route.
For visitors who want to move between popular destinations by water, our Chicago water taxi offers a scenic and practical way to reach major attractions without relying only on downtown traffic.
However you choose to explore, Shoreline Sightseeing makes it easy to experience Chicago’s waterfront, skyline, and landmark views from the place where they often look their best: the water.
FAQs About Shoreline Sightseeing
Shoreline Sightseeing has been operating in Chicago since 1939, when Jim Martin began offering boat rides from the Shedd Aquarium on Lake Michigan.
Shoreline Sightseeing began with 25-cent speedboat rides that departed from the Shedd Aquarium and traveled onto Lake Michigan. The company later expanded with larger touring vessels and additional sightseeing options.
Yes. Shoreline offers Chicago river tours, including its popular Architecture River Tour. These tours highlight Chicago’s architecture, history, bridges, and riverfront landmarks from the water.
Shoreline Sightseeing’s Architecture Tour debuted in 1999, originally departing from Navy Pier. The tour has since become one of Shoreline’s signature sightseeing experiences.
Shoreline Sightseeing operates one of Chicago’s largest sightseeing fleets, with 11 major touring vessels and 7 water taxis.
Yes. Shoreline offers Chicago water taxi service, which connects popular downtown and lakefront destinations by water. The service is a fast, scenic way to get around the city during the operating season.
Fun things to do in Chicago on the water include taking a Chicago river tour, enjoying a Lake Michigan skyline cruise, riding a water taxi, or choosing a history tour that connects the river and lake. Shoreline offers several options for visitors who want to experience the city from the water.
Shoreline combines decades of Chicago sightseeing experience with trained guides, a large fleet, convenient dock locations, and tour options on both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. It is a trusted way to see the city’s architecture, skyline, and waterfront attractions.