Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Naperville Heritage Society

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

1. Naperville Heritage Society Marker

Inscription. All people who are interested in saving Naperville's remaining heritage - historic buildings, etc., come join with me to do what we can," invited Jane Sindt in the local newspaper. And the response was extraordinary.

The original handful of individuals responding to this simple call to action grew into a community wide awareness and pride in Naperville's past. From that first meeting, the Naperville Heritage Society was born on February 11, 1969. The most visible result of this effort has been the development of Naper Settlement, a 13-acre museum village. The rich stories, treasured traditions and objects of the past stand testament to the core values embraced from our town's beginnings to present day. Without our history we cannot know who we are or what we may someday become. We are eternally

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grateful to those visionaries whose determination and conviction ensured our heritage would be preserved and shared for generations to come.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is February 11, 1969.

Location. 41° 46.188′ N, 88° 9.103′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is at the intersection of Webster Street and Aurora Avenue on Webster Street. The marker is next to the entrance to the Naper Settlement. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 523 South Webster Street, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

Naper Settlement image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 11, 2024

2. Naper Settlement

The marker about the Naperville Heritage Society is to the right of the building. In the foreground is a separate marker about Horse Market Days.

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Horse Market Days (a few steps from this marker); Steve Chirico (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commander Dan Shanower September 11 Memorial (about 600 feet away); Grassroots Overlook (about 600 feet away); Farmers Monument (about 600 feet away); Dick Tracy (about 600 feet away); Antique Show Plow (about 600 feet away); "Streaming History" (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

Also see . . .
1. Naperville Heritage Society.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

3. Naper Settlement

This building serves as the entrance into the Naper Settlement. It is a recreation of the Pre-Emption House, which stood in downtown Naperville about a quarter-mile from here until being torn down in 1946.

Excerpt: "Naperville's pioneers arrived in 1831, creating a robust, thriving community. However by 1969, 140 years later, some of the city's historic structures had fallen into disrepair or were perceived as obsolete. One such building was St. John's Episcopal Church, built in 1864. Saving this church and other important buildings throughout Naperville became the rallying cry of the Naperville Heritage Society, which was formed in 1969. The Naperville Heritage Society raised enough money to move the church across town in 1970 to the city-owned grounds surrounding the museum at the Martin Mitchell Mansion."

(Submitted on September 17, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Notable Naperville Women -- Jane Sindt. A biography of Jane Sindt, who drove the creation of the Naperville Heritage

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Society. (Submitted on September 17, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 17, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on May 11, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on September 17, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.