Above/ During Civil War Days at Naper Settlement, hundreds of reenactors participate, culminating in a battle complete with raging cannons and marching infantry. (PN File Photo)
Blacksmithing 101 / May 6 & May 13
Learn the art of blacksmithing with an introduction to safety, tools and the forge in this two-session class. Participants will learn hammer techniques while making an item to take home. For adults ages 18 and up. Classes are limited to 6 participants. All materials provided. Blacksmithing 101 will take place Saturdays, May 6 and 13 from 8-11AM.
Girl Scouts May Day / May 7
Daisies, Brownies and Juniors are able to earn their badge requirements at Naper Settlement. Girl Scouts will visit stations, tour buildings and play games at Girl Scouts May Day on May 7 from 1-4PM. Scouts will work toward requirements to earn a badge; Clover Petal for Daisies; Letterbox Badge for Brownies; Flowers Badge for Juniors. Admission is $13 per Scout and $10 per adult. Register for this program through the Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Council website or contact the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Registrar.
History Speaks Lecture Series: Margaret Mitchell – Before and After Scarlett / May 7
Join Lynn Rymarz as she shares the life and times of Pulitzer Prize winner, Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind.” Hear about Mitchell’s childhood in Atlanta, where she grew up listening to Civil War stories by her relatives who served as Confederate soldiers and how their stories became the heart of her story. Discover how she created her memorable characters including, Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. Rymarz will give a behind the scenes look of how Mitchell’s book became published and made into an Academy Award winner for Best Picture. Photographs and letters will be shared. This History Speaks Lecture Series will take place May 7 from 4 to 5PM in the Century Memorial Chapel. Admission for non-members is $10 for adults and $9 for youth (4-12) and students. Admission for members is $8 for adults and $7 for youth.
Scouts Victorian Spa Overnight / May 12-13
Have luxurious fun while you try different methods that ladies used in the 1800s to bring out their natural beauty. Visit the Martin Mitchell Mansion and make lotions and potions to pamper yourself. Enjoy a nighttime snack and continental breakfast. Bring your overnight gear. Naper Settlement patch included in price. Scouts Victorian Spa Overnight will take place May 12 beginning at 7:30PM and end on May 13 at 8:30AM. The fee is $45 per scout, $18 per adult and 1 adult is required per 4 scouts. Naperville residents do not receive free admission to the program. To register, call (630) 420-6010.
Victorian Memory and Mourning, plus Cemetery Symbols / May 13
Get ready for Memorial Day with a look back at how Americans have traditionally handled death, mourning and memorialization. Experience hands-on Victorian mourning artifacts and memorials from the collection of folklorist Sheila Riley. Discover what mysterious gravestone symbols really mean, then practice your knowledge in a guided walking tour of Naperville Cemetery. Victorian Memory and Mourning plus Cemetery Symbols will take place on May 13 from 1-3PM. This two-hour program will be led by Riley, Director of Learning Experiences at Naper Settlement. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Admission is $15 per person and $13 for Settlement-6 members and above. Reservations are required. To register, call (630) 420-6010.
Civil War Days / May 20 & May 21
Naper Settlement is transformed into a Civil War encampment where visitors can meet famous figures of the past and experience firsthand a turbulent time period in our nation’s history. Civil War Days will take place May 20-21 from 10AM to 4PM. Hundreds of reenactors participate, culminating in a battle complete with raging cannons and marching infantry. This family-friendly event features food, fun, music and shopping on “Sutler’s Row” for traditional Civil War-era reproduction products. The battle begins at 2:30PM each day. The Weed Ladies will be selling spring silk and dried florals in the Daniels House. Advanced tickets are $13 per adults and $8 per youth. Admission day of the event is $15 per adult and $10 per youth. Free admission for members and children under 4.
History comes to life at Naper Settlement, Chicagoland’s outdoor history museum, located at 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville. Visit www.napersettlement.museum or call (630) 420-6010 for tickets and info.
