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

Naper Settlement

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

1. Naper Settlement Marker

Inscription. Some of the families who traveled with Joseph and John Naper stayed here to help build a town. The area was known as Naper's Settlement. The settlers' first homes and businesses were located along the high ground of the north bank of the DuPage River, between here and the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Washington Street.

Captain Naper surveyed, mapped and named the streets, alleys and town lots in 1842. The original 80 acres of Naper's Settlement have grown to a city of nearly five square miles.

Naper Settlement, tells the story of how life changed for people in towns such as Naperville as they grew from frontier outposts to bustling communities of commerce and industry. The 12-acre museum is administered by the Naperville Heritage Society, founded in 1969, with a dual mission of historic preservation and education. The legacy that the Heritage Society created by saving and preserving historic structures and artifacts is brought to life at Naper Settlement, nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Erected 2010 by Naper Settlement.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these

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topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. 41° 46.356′ N, 88° 9.26′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is at the intersection of Mill Street and Jefferson Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Mill Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

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: Naper Homestead (a few steps from this marker); Log Cabin Site (a few steps from this marker); The Napers & Naperville (a few steps from this marker); Trading Post Site (a few steps from this marker); First Frame House (within shouting distance of this marker); Mark Naper Home

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

2. Naper Settlement Marker

The marker is on the right side of this photo taken from the south end of Naper Homestead park. The closer marker is about the homestead park.

(within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Naper Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker); Hand Pump (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

Also see . . . Naper Settlement official site. This homestead park is about 10 minutes by foot from the Naper Settlement, an outdoor history park. (Submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Joseph and Almeda Naper image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

3. Joseph and Almeda Naper

A different sign at this park includes this picture of the Napers, the area's first white settlers whose homestead was at this site.

South entrance into Naper Homestead image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

4. South entrance into Naper Homestead

The Naper Settlement marker is up the walkway to the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.