Naper Settlement facts for kids
Naper Settlement is an exciting outdoor history museum located in Naperville, Illinois. It opened in 1969 and covers 12 acres, which is about the size of nine football fields! The museum has 30 historic buildings and structures from the Naperville area. Many of these buildings were carefully moved to the Settlement and restored. They now look just like they did during different time periods, from 1831 (when Naperville was founded) through the early 1900s. Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities and guided tours led by museum educators dressed in old-fashioned clothes. The land for the Settlement was given to the City of Naperville in 1936 by Caroline Martin Mitchell.
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Exploring the Martin Mitchell Mansion
Quick facts for kids |
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Pine Craig
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The beautiful Martin-Mitchell Mansion at Naper Settlement.
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 523 S. Webster St. Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Built | 1883 |
| Architect | J. Mulvey |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Eastlake movement) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002076 |
| Added to NRHP | August 15, 1975 |
The Martin Mitchell Mansion is a very old and important house. The original owners called it Pine Craig. This large 12-room house was built using materials from Naperville businesses. It even used stone from quarries along the DuPage River.
Who Built the Mansion?
George Martin II was the son of an immigrant from Scotland. He became very successful by using local resources. First, he started a farm and bought more land, eventually owning 1,000 acres. Then, he opened a limestone quarry along the DuPage River. This quarry became very busy after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 because so much stone was needed to rebuild the city.
Making Bricks and Tiles
George Martin II also helped start Naperville Tile and Brick Works. This company made over a million bricks and a million tiles! The tiles were mostly used to drain wet, swampy land so it could be used for farming. Martin managed his part of the business from his new home after it was built in 1883. His family lived in the house until 1936.
The Mansion Today
The Martin Mitchell Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Today, it is a key part of Naper Settlement. The house was carefully restored between 2000 and 2003, so visitors can see it just as it looked long ago.
Mary and Richard Benck Family Agriculture Center
This special center opened in April 2023. It helps visitors understand how important farming was to Naperville's history. The exhibits teach about how farming affected the economy, how food was transported, and how it provided nutrition. The Center also has a "Field Watchers" program. This program helps school-aged children learn about agriculture and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.
Fun Programs and Activities
Naper Settlement is known for its many large special events. For many years, it hosted "Civil War Days." This was a two-day event where the Settlement became a big army camp. More than 300 actors would recreate historical life and battles. Other popular events included Christkindlmarket and NaperLights. These events were very popular with families.
Supporting Naper Settlement
In 2014, Naper Settlement received money from the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program. This program helps museums across the state. It was part of a larger plan by Illinois to support important cultural places.
