Naper Settlement presents the following events and programs during March and April 2022. From now through March, the museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 10AM-4 PM with general museum admission $6 for adults (13+), $5 for seniors (62+), and $4 for youth (4-12). Beginning April 1, the museum moves to its Summer Admission & Hours and will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 AM-4 PM and Sunday from 1-4 PM with general museum admission $12 for adults (13+), $10 for seniors (62+), and $8 for youth (4-12). Naperville residents with proof of residency, children under 4, and members are free. For more info about a specific event or program or to purchase museum admission tickets, visit www.NaperSettlement.org.
History Speaks: Beyond Redlining
Sunday, March 13 • 4-5 PM | $10/person
When millions of African Americans escaping Jim Crow racial violence in the South migrated to Midwestern, Northern, and Western states in the early decades of the 20th century, their quest of economic opportunities and political liberties triggered massive changes to urban life and a series of social experiments that came to define segregated life in modern America. Much of these changes and experiments—from public policies at the local, state, and federal levels to cultural climate and mainstream business practices—which produced the segregated communities we know today remain largely unknown, at least, until recently. In this History Speaks, Dr. Desmond Odugu, Associate Professor of Education and the Chair of Education at Lake Forest College, explores historical evidence and enduring legacies of redlining, racial restrictive covenants, and several other racial strategies for residential segregation in the Chicagoland area that began well before the Great Migration itself and why engaging actively with that history matters today.
School’s Out! – Victorian Pastimes
Tuesday, March 15 • 9AM-3PM | $45/youth (grades 1-6)
In this program, participants will learn about how kids from the past entertained themselves and their friends while their moms and dads were busy hosting teas and fancy dinners. Children and adults still play some of these games today!
Scouts Spring Fling
Sunday, March 20 • 1-4PM | $15/scout, $10/adult
Welcome warmer weather and shake off cabin fever during Naper Settlement’s annual tribute to the changing seasons. Explore the museum’s historic buildings, talk with costumed interpreters, create a fun spring craft, and learn how to build teamwork with your troops! Scouts receive a fun patch in honor of this event. The program is suitable for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of all ages.
4th Thursday Pop-Up: Spring Tea
Thursday, March 24 • 7-8:30PM | $20/adult (must be 18+)
Join Naper Settlement for Downton Abbey-inspired activities! Enjoy tea and sweet treats while playing a rousing game of series trivia, set amidst a village flower show. Feel free to get in the spirit of the day and wear your best hat, gloves, and accessories, either historic or contemporary! Floral arrangements made by the Weed Ladies of the Naperville Heritage Society will be available for purchase. You must be at least 18 years of age to participate.
Weed Ladies Spring Sale
March 31-April 2 • 10AM-3PM and April 3 • 1-3PM | Free to attend the sale
The Weed Ladies Spring Sale features creative seasonal floral arrangements. Each one-of-a-kind silk or dried floral creation has been designed by the Weed Ladies of the Naperville Heritage Society volunteer group. Proceeds benefit the Naperville Heritage Society. Admission to the sale is free. Please enter the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center and inform the Guest Services Team that you are attending the sale.
Playscape Readers: Pond Animals
Wednesday, April 6 • 1PM | Included in general admission
Playscape Readers is a story time for children that follows seasonal themes with a focus on historical themes and pre-reading skills. April’s theme is pond animals.
Town and Gown Walking Tour
Thursday, April 7 • 5:30-6:30PM | $15/person, free for children under 4
Explore the east side of downtown Naperville and learn about the ways the community developed along with North Central College. Tours last approximately 60 minutes and cover about two miles. Pre-registration is required. Tours will meet at Naper Settlement’s main entrance at 523 S. Webster Street.
History Speaks: Midcentury Cuisine: Food Fads from the 40s-60s
Sunday, April 10 • 4-5PM | $10/person
Remember Jell-O salads and cheese sprayed out of a can? When every pantry held Velveeta and all the kids wanted to drink Tang? Join historian and author Leslie Goddard for a nostalgic look at the food innovations and marketing approaches that transformed how we ate at midcentury. Using classic cookbooks, advertisements, and family magazines, this presentation will explore how society and technology shaped American food from the 1940s through the 1960s.
West Side Downtown Walking Tour
Thursday, April 14 • 5:30-6:30PM | $15/person, free for children under 4
Listen to stories from Naperville’s founding to the generosity of Caroline Martin Mitchell on a walking tour of the west side of downtown Naperville. Tours last approximately 60 minutes and cover about two miles. Pre-registration is required. Tours will meet at Naper Settlement’s main entrance at 523 S. Webster Street.
Third Thursday Thinkers: Earth Day
Thursday, April 21 • 1PM | Included in general admission
Join Naper Settlement for a special activity while learning about Earth Day, practicing recycling, and creating art out of recycled materials.
Downtown Naperville Architecture Walking Tour
Thursday, April 21 • 5:30-6:30PM | $15/person, free for children under 4
Learn about the important and interesting architecture from the 1800s to today that makes downtown Naperville a beautiful place to live, work, and play. Tours last approximately 60 minutes and cover about two miles. Pre-registration is required. Tours will meet at Naper Settlement’s main entrance at 523 S. Webster Street.
Town and Gown Walking Tour
Thursday, April 28 • 5:30-6:30PM | $15/person, free for children under 4
Explore the east side of downtown Naperville and learn about the ways the community developed along with North Central College. Tours last approximately 60 minutes and cover about two miles. Pre-registration is required. Tours will meet at Naper Settlement’s main entrance at 523 S. Webster Street.
Naper Settlement is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor living history museum set on 13 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville. Located 30 miles from Chicago, the museum is home to thirty-one historical structures dating back as early as the 1830s. Featuring exhibits, special events, educational programming and more, Naper Settlement is where history comes alive and the community comes to connect. For more info, visit www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.
