Naper Settlement facts for kids
Naper Settlement is an exciting outdoor history museum in Naperville, Illinois. It opened in 1969 and covers 12 acres. The museum has 30 old buildings and structures from the Naperville area. Many of these buildings were moved here from their original spots. They were then fixed up to look just like they did long ago. These buildings show what life was like from 1831, when Naperville started, through the early 1900s. Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities and tours. Museum teachers in old-fashioned clothes lead these tours. The museum sits on land given to Naperville in 1936 by Caroline Martin Mitchell.
Explore the Martin Mitchell Mansion
Quick facts for kids |
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Pine Craig
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The Martin-Mitchell Mansion within the Naper Settlement outdoor museum.
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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 house. Its first owners called it Pine Craig. This large 12-room house was built using materials from local Naperville businesses. Stone from DuPage River quarries was also used.
George Martin II was the son of an immigrant from Scotland. He became rich by using local resources. First, he started a farm. He slowly bought more land until he owned 1,000 acres. Then, Martin opened a limestone quarry along the DuPage River. This business became very successful in 1871. There was a huge need for stone after the Great Chicago Fire.
He made even more money when he helped start Naperville Tile and Brick Works. This company made over one million bricks and one million tiles. The tiles were mostly used to drain wet lands for farming. Martin ran his part of the business from his new home. He named the house Pine Craig. His family lived there until 1936. The house became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Today, the mansion is part of Naper Settlement. It was carefully restored between 2000 and 2003.
Learn About Farming at the Agriculture Center
The Mary and Richard Benck Family Agriculture Center opened in April 2023. This center shows how important farming was in Naperville's past. You can learn about how farming affects money, transportation, and healthy food. The center also has a "Field Watchers" program. This program helps school-aged kids get interested in farming and other science careers.
Fun Events and Activities at Naper Settlement
Naper Settlement is an outdoor museum that hosts many special events. From 1982 to 2019, it held "Civil War Days." This was a two-day event where the museum became a large army camp. More than 300 actors would recreate historical life and battles. Other popular events included Christkindlmarket and NaperLights. Both of these events also ended in 2019.
