ART
ARCHITECTURE
& HISTORY
in the Public Realm
A Tour Around Harvard Campus
Cambridge - This tour will take you around Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Established in 1636, Harvard has gained an international reputation as an institution of higher intellectual growth. Strolling around the campus, you will observe buildings designed by such iconic architects as Le Corbusier and Sert. You will learn about historical events that took place in the area, and the construction of recent innovative buildings.
A Tour Around MIT Campus
Cambridge - Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has a rich history of innovation and experimental thinking. This is reflected in the diversity of architectural samples around the campus. This tour will take you around buildings by Eero Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, Steven Holl and more.
A Walk Around Bryant Park
New York City - Featuring discussions about the renovation of the park with former president of the Art Commission of the City of New York, Jean Parker Phifer, and with Hugh Hardy of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture, whose firm has done many of the renovations.
Albuquerque Museum Sculpture Garden
Albuquerque - This is a walk around the outdoor sculptures of the Albuquerque Museum's Sculpture Garden.
Around Manhattan by Bike or Boat Tour
New York City - A waterfront tour around Manhattan that begins at Chelsea Piers and circles the entire island of Manhattan.
Artwalk Downtown Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM - This tour highlights the public art in Albuquerque's vibrant downtown district.
Battery Park City
New York - Built on 92 acres of landfill from the excavation of the World Trade Center site, Battery Park City exemplified the most forward thinking urban design of 1979. It was a fully planned community incorporating a public art collection and green guidelines into all the buildings and the surrounding parks.
Battery Park Tour
New York City - Highlights of the history, arts, and architecture of Battery Park.
Broadway Tip-to-Tail
New York City - A walking tour along New York City's famous Broadway, starting in the Bronx and reaching all the way to Battery Park.
Bunker Hill: From Victorian Neighborhood to Cultural Business Center
Los Angeles, CA - Located between 1st St. and 5th St. and Hill and Figueroa, Bunker Hill was originally an residential neighborhood served by the shops on the commercial corridors below.
Chinatown Heritage Walking Tour
Chinatown, Manhattan - This tour will take you around many highlights of Manhattan Chinatown's cultural landscape and explore the immigrant history of Chinese Americans as well as the early Irish, Jewish and Italian immigrants in the wider neighborhood.
Cityscapes of Boston - A Walk Around Government Center
Boston - This is a unique tour that takes you back in history to what Boston Government Center used to look like. You can compare the past to the present and learn about buildings and squares.
Compassionate St. Augustine OA450
St. Augustine - Obelisk Art 450, Tour of Compassion is an international public art exhibition interpreting Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and Compassion in the Nation’s Oldest City. Obelisks are on view citywide, primarily in historic downtown St. Augustine October 2, 2015 through January 31, 2016. Artists were invited to create multidimensional statements about the ways in which the diverse history of the “Ancient City” resonates with the four values listed above.
Creative Arts Workshops - Murals on 135th Street
135th Street, New York City - A walking tour of the murals on 135th Street. Parents as Art Partners (PAAP) and Harlem Success Academy in partnership with El Museo del Barrio co-sponsored this tour guided by muralist Janet Braun-Reinitz.
Cultural and Historical 125th Street
New York City - A Walking Tour Of Harlem's World-Famous 125th Street.
Cultural District of Downtown LA
Grand Ave and 1st Street - This tour gives an inside look of the old Bunker Hill corridor now known as the Cultural District of Downtown Los Angeles. Walking along Grand Avenue and the intersecting 1st Street, iconic architecture including the Walt Disney Concert Hall can be visited.
Dallas Public Art Walk
Dallas - In partnership with the Dallas Business Council of the Arts, this tour follows some of the highlights of the Art District of Dallas.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale - The Art and Architecture
Florida - The Tour follows the route of the AIA Fort Lauderdale tour and adds many of the downtown public artworks.
Downtown Los Angeles - Figueroa Blvd
Figueroa Blvd. - Take a look at Downtown Los Angeles on the historic Figueroa Boulevard, a main street running through Los Angeles. Sites from the newly developed L.A. Live and erected lofts to historically renovated buildings including the Standard Hotel, this walking tour will give you a glimpse of the gentrification sweeping through Downtown.
Dublin Art in Public Places
Dublin, Ohio - The Dublin Art in Public Places program is more than 20 years old and has grown from one sculpture in 1990 to more than 70 sculptural elements in 2011. The Dublin Art in Public Places cell phone tour provides a current, comprehensive and interactive guide to the collection. The Dublin Art in Public Places Cell Phone Tour has been generously supported by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, a grant from the Ohio Arts Council and a Bed Tax Grant and in-kind contributions from the City of Dublin.
Fenway Cultural District
Boston, MA - This tour is a wonderful way to explore history, culture, art and architecture around Fenway Cultural District. You will visit cultural institutions such as Museum of Fine Arts, Gardner Museum, Fenway Studios, Symphony Hall and more. Meanwhile, you will pause at artworks such as Night and Day, Mural 2003, Leaves, and take a peak at what streets looked like in the past.
Fort Point Channel Walk
SE side of Fort Point Channel - A walk from the the heart of Fort Point Channel Landmark District to Fan Pier. The walk goes by artist workspace, historic buildings and along the waterfront. The tour culminates with the Moakley Courthouse and its associated public art. The tour takes you from the historic to the first building that sparked the transformation of the rest of the South Boston waterfront. At night the waterfront portion of the tour provides a skyline view, bridge lightings, and the illuminated courthouse.
Freedom Trail History+
Boston - Follow the Freedom Trail and learn about architecture and art along the way. You can listen to stories about buildings and look at old photographs of what they used to look like. The tour includes some of Boston's main landmarks such as Faneuil Hall, Old State House, Government Center, State House and more.
Great Crash of 1929: Tour of the Financial District
New York City - This tour of the Financial District delves into the political, financial and architectural history of Wall Street. The tour is led by James S. Kaplan and Richard M. Warshauer.
Harlem: The Capital of Black America
New York City - A Historical Walking Tour of Central Harlem, Lead by Attorney and Historian James Kaplan
Hell's Kitchen: The Political History of the New York Irish
New York City - This Irish neighborhood west of the theater district was once one of the toughest areas in the City. This unique tour will discuss the political history of the area, as well as its close relationship with Broadway.
High Line Park
New York - A walking tour of the High Line, featuring highlights of the the park as well of the surrounding architecture.
Historic Core: In the Footsteps of the Early Pioneers
Los Angeles, CA - The public artworks and surrounding monumental architecture of the Historic Core highlight key people and places in the early story of the city.
Historic Homes of Southern California
Los Angeles - Homes designed by influential architects of the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and Rudolf Schindler and many others are visited along this striking tour through the neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Discover the striking history for yourself getting an up close look at these homes built at the turn of the century. <i> This is a driving tour, motor transit is necessary to travel along this tour.</i>
Inglewood Architecture Driving Tour
Inglewood - Take a leisure cruise via motor transit or non-mortor transit through Inglewood to discover hidden gems by renown architects. Start with the oldest home in the South Bay, Centinela Adobe, also on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Ease your way into the tour discovering the local googie style, iconic donut shacks and the civic buildings collection by Charles Luckman.
Inglewood Civic Center Tour
Inglewood Civic Center - Take a stroll around the City of Inglewood's Civic Center area. A mixture of both architecture and public art, this walking tour will give you a glimpse of the communal efforts given by Inglewood locals and their strong connection to their city's history.
Innovative Architecture Around Boston
Boston, MA - While Boston has a reputation for resisting innovation, technological and architectural breakthroughs have nonetheless defined its growth. America's first college, first public park, first free public library and first subway system were all championed and carried out by Bostonians. The city's creative muscle continues to be flexed by projects like the John Hancock Tower, ICA, Harbor Islands Pavilion, and Simmons Hall, all of which keep Boston at the forefront of architecture and maintain its position as a pillar of innovation.
Jewish Arrival Tour
New York City - Led by historian James Kaplan, the Jewish Arrival Tour traces key locations of the establishment of New York's Jewish population from 1654 to the present.
LA's Financial Core: Treasures in Between the Towers
Los Angeles, CA - This tour takes visitors through LA's Financial District, which came into its own as a business district during the 1970’s and early 1980’s when city zoning regulations changed to allow structures taller than city hall.
Little Tokyo: Big Community
Los Angeles, CA - This tour takes visitors through Little Tokyo, which has grown from its roots in the early 20th Century to serve as an important cultural, religious, social center of the Japanese American community.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route
New York - Beginning near the Museum of Natural History and ending naturally at Macy's, the Tour highlights all the art and architecture along the route
Modern Architecture in Sarasota
Florida - This list was developed as a self-guided driving tour, an introduction to the architectural heritage of Sarasota, Florida. Buildings were selected because they are architecturally significant and visible from the public right of way. Examples of what became known as the Sarasota School of Architecture from 1940-1970 celebrate a style unique to the community, and are recognized nationally.
Pasadena Public Art Tour: Lake Avenue
Pasadena - Pasadena dynamic- vibrant with activity and full of culture. We invite you to experience the public art that is so vital to the City's unique character. These interesting and varied walking tours feature jewels from Pasadena'a innovative Public Art collection. Each tour takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour to complete and will give you a good sampling of the City's holdings. Walk with a friend or walk by yourself- make these tours your own.
Pasadena Public Art Tour: Memorial Park Area
Pasadena - West of Pasadena Hall and North of Old Town Pasadena, Memorial Park can be found. A park boasting with Pasadena Public Art pieces, the lively area embraces culture and the uniqueness of Pasadena. Only feet away from a Metro Gold Line Rail stop, the park is easily accessible. Sculptures and installations are scattered around the site creating a fun exploration of the area.
Pasadena Public Art Tour: Pasadena City Hall Area
Pasadena - Wander around the core of Pasadena, the Pasadena City Hall area. A walking tour, the 9 chosen pieces exemplify the different art mediums found in the Pasadena Public Art collection.
Pasadena Public Art Tour: Paseo Colorado
Pasadena - Take a walk around the Paseo Colorado, an outdoor mall filled with iron works and other public art pieces of the Pasadena Public Art collection.
Project 180 The Destination Markers
Oklahoma City - This walking tour features a series of destination markers installed as part of Project 180 streetscape renovations throughout downtown Oklahoma City. The destination markers depict an aerial map with a small silver pin that denotes “you are here.” The outer ring of each destination marker highlights a local historic or pop culture event specific to the city.
Public Art in Atlanta
Atlanta - The City of Atlanta's Office of Cultural Affairs put together this tour of the public art highlights in downtown Atlanta
Public Art in Midtown
New York City - A Walking Tour From Bryant Park to Grand Central Station
Public Artwalk in Kansas City
Kansas City, Mo -
Public Transit in Boston: Art & Architecture Along the Red Line
Boston - This is a great opportunity to use your charlie card and look at what is along the subway route. The tour starts in Porter Square in North Cambridge and follows the train route past Harvard and MIT and then across the river into downtown Boston.
Quincy Granite History Tour
Quincy, MA - Quincy, MA was once internationally recognized for the granite it produced; it was even known as "The Granite City." Evidence of its industrial past still exists, though largely obscured by more recent changes in land use. As you visit the stops that comprise this tour, browse through the historical photos to learn what the site was like when Quincy's granite industry was at its peak.
Renewal of Boston Waterfront
Boston - The word “renewal” has a particular connotation in the city of Boston. Over the last four centuries, renewal has continually pushed Boston into the future. Landmaking literally expanded the city's limits, fostering a new intellectual and cultural center in the Back Bay. The Boston Harbor and Charles River clean ups have invited the city to its waterfront, creating an entirely new attraction for residents and tourists to enjoy.
Revolutionary NYC
New York City - This walking tour of Revolutionary War sites in Lower Manhattan is lead by historian James Kaplan. This is a recording of the tour which is held annually from 2am - 6am every July 4th.
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway
Boston - On this tour explore the world famous Rose Fritzgerald Kennedy Greenway and its new mixed-use public space that is a center of history, culture, art, architecture and cusines. We will take you on tour from Chinatown through South Station, The Giant of Boston Mural, Light Blades, Reading Circle, Causeway street and finally to North Station. In the way showing you interesting pieces of art and architecture near the Greenway.
San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio, Texas - This tour guides visitors through downtown San Antonio. You'll visit San Antonio's most famous buildings, public art, and sites like the Riverwalk and HemisFair Park.
Summer Streets Architectural Tour
Manhattan, NYC - Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in the summer, nearly seven miles of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, walk, bike, and breathe. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. In 2016, nearly 300,000 people took advantage of the open streets.
Summer Streets Art Tour
Manhattan, NYC - Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in the summer, nearly seven miles of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, walk, bike, and breathe. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. In 2016, nearly 300,000 people took advantage of the open streets. This tour highlights the permanent and temporary installations for 2017.
The Commons - The Heart of The City of New York
New York City Hall Park - Lower Manhattan has effectively been America’s town square since its discovery in 1524 and the Commons has been the City’s town square. The Commons has been where New Yorkers congregate. First used as livestock pasture, it has been a prison, a parade ground, a public execution site, an almshouse, an art museum, and a post office. During most of that time, it has been the seat of government. Citizens came here to protest the Stamp Act and cut down the Liberty Poles that led to the Revolution; they returned a century later to honor Abraham Lincoln when he lay in state in City Hall. Framed by Broadway, City Hall Tweed Courthouse, the African Burial Ground, Publishers Row, the Brooklyn Bridge, there is much that has happened here.
The Cultural Complex at Audubon Terrace
New York City - This is a walking tour of one off Manhattan's hidden gems, the cultural complex at Audubon Terrace, located in Manhattan's Washington Heights district.
Times Square
New York City - This tour shows visitors and locals alike the highlights of New York City's Times Square. Listeners can hear architects discuss their role in the revitalization of the square.
Tour Around the USC Campus and Neighborhood
University of Southern California - This walking tour strolls through the picturesque campus of the University of Southern California. Founded in 1880, this oldest private research university within California, hosts a plethora of Romanesque style buildings built by architects of the likes of I.M. Pei and A. Quincy Jones. The brick lined paths lure visitors through tree lined pedestrian walks while the landscape brings about an aura of peace and ease.
Urban Renewal at Boston Government Center
Boston - The word “renewal” has a particular connotation in the city of Boston. Over the last four centuries, renewal has continually pushed Boston into the future. Landmaking literally expanded the city's limits, fostering a new intellectual and cultural center in the Back Bay.
Walking Tour of University of Florida's Public Art
Gainesville, FL - This tour highlights works of art that were purchased through the Art in State Buildings fund, and walks visitors through the picturesque southern campus of the University of Florida.
World Trade Center
Lower Manhattan - On the morning of September 11th, 2001, 19 terrorists flew two hijacked airplanes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Over 2000 people were killed that day. The process of rebuilding and healing has taken over eleven years. This tour is focusses on the architecture and the memorial at Ground Zero.
Yale University Art Tour
New Haven, CT - This tour of the the public art of Yale University allows visitors to take in the campus and its' incredible collection of classical and contemporary artworks.