A Place Called Roam
  • Home
  • Tao of Travel
  • The Best Of
  • Archives
  • About
  • Contact Me

NAPER SETTLEMENT OFFERS BANG OF A GOOD TIME DURING CIVIL WAR DAYS

6/10/2013

 
The sound was deafening as the old Civil War cannons fired with the all fanfare that comes with mixing black powder and a percussion cap.   
Picture
Grandson Grant was right there on the front lines watching the action.
A collective gasp rose from the crowd of onlookers as a second blast of gunpowder enveloped the handful of Confederate soldiers less than one hundred feet away.   
Picture
The soldiers didn't hold back when it came to firing the cannon.
The Union soldiers defended the fort,
Picture
This is a scaled down version of the original Fort Payne built locally in 1832 for protection from Indians.
as the Confederate soldiers inched closer and closer.
Picture
They had to be hot in all that wool.
For twenty-five years, these soldiers have been duking it out in early May in this nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor museum set on 12 acres in the heart of Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of one-hundred-fifty-thousand approximately thirty miles west of  Chicago.
Picture
Naper Settlements Preemption House becomes headquarters for all the Civil War action.
That same outdoor museum was home to my wedding in 1997.  Jimmy and I were married in the quaint Gothic Revival style Century Memorial Chapel on a beautiful fall day almost 16 years ago. Where has the time gone?    
Picture
Think the colors of fall rather than spring and our wedding day should come into focus.
The chapel is one of thirty historical buildings and structures that were part of the city of Naperville as far back as 1831, when Joseph Naper and John Murray established the city.  
    
Our little church was once at the corner of Jefferson and Ellsworth Streets, when it was called St. John’s Episcopal Church.  In 1969, a group of concerned residents (part of the Naperville Heritage Society) rescued the chapel from new development.  Its successful relocation to its current site sparked awareness in historic preservation and formed the cornerstone of what is now Naper Settlement. 
 
The Copenhagen Schoolhouse is a reconstruction of the last one-room schoolhouse in the area, originally part of a community called Copenhagen Corners in what is now south  Naperville.
Picture
This schoolhouse was about the size of my classroom when I was teaching.
Picture
Does this bring back memories for anybody out there?
Kudos to those pioneer teachers!  They had their hands full teaching every subject and every grade level.  No wonder they were usually spinsters.  There had to be very little time left at the end of the day for anything but preparing lessons for the next day.  Some things never seem to change, but I did manage to snag a prince!  

Some of the other buildings and structures that are part of Naper Settlement include a doctor’s home and medical office,
Picture
Dr. Hamilton Daniels' home and medical practice were one and the same.
a blacksmith,
Picture
This guys a shoe-in when it comes to keeping those horses ready to roll.
an authentic log cabin, the only structure that did not originate in the Naperville area,
Picture
This one-room log cabin was undoubtedly the impetus for Lincoln Logs.
Picture
Less to clean with only one room for a living space; much more time for cooking and sewing.
one of Naperville's original firehouses and fire engines,
Picture
Naperville's first fire pumper was purchased in 1874 and was housed in any barn in which it would fit.
Picture
Wow, those grasshoppers grow pretty big on the plains of the Midwest.
as well as a print shop;
Picture
Read all about it! This was originally an old garage.
Picture
Naper Settlement uses the two presses in the print shop to handle many of their publications.
and of course a mansion belonging to one of the town’s richest residents; the Martin Mitchell Mansion and Carriage House is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The mansion was built in 1883 on this original location and deeded to the City of Naperville by George Mitchell's last surviving heir, daughter Caroline Martin Mitchell in 1936.
Picture
George Martin III built this home to showcase the bricks and tiles that were the foundation for his fortune.
Picture
Grant gets a chance to test out the authenticity of this historic relic. Nothing like hands on experience.
The transformation to Naper Settlement during Civil War Days was incredible; many of the volunteers that show up year after year actually sleep all weekend in the tents they've pitched for the re-enactment.
Picture
Civil War Days gives us all an opportunity to pause and reflect on the painful costs of war.
Picture
Do these come with central air?
Picture
Soldiers learned to travel light given they carried all their possessions on their backs.
Entire families got involved in recreating the history.
Picture
I think I was seeing double that day.
It was interactive theater at its finest with 19th and 21st century characters alike mingling in this unique wrinkle in time. 
Picture
Ever the politician, Lincoln knew how to work a crowd for Jimmy and me. Grant wasn't impressed.
All the world inside Naper Settlement was a stage; presidents, generals, soldiers, doctors, merchants and modern day interlopers got in on the act.
Picture
Lincoln and wife Mary Todd mourn the loss of so many lives during the Civil War.
Picture
Singers assemble on the steps of Naperville's Paw Paw Post Office, the first in the city.
Picture
The local pharmacist, circa 1800s.
Unfortunately the theater was not air conditioned.  We battled the heat and humidity (and one little firecracker who wanted center stage most of the time) for several hours,
Picture
Pump it up, Grant! Daddy is waiting.
then surrendered without casualties.
Picture
No intermission for Jimmy and me; Grant, on the other hand, seemed conflicted about leaving midday.

The Bottom Line on Naper Settlement



Verdict: This is a great destination for families and history buffs alike, regardless the time of year.  Grant and Grandpa got quite the bang out of the Civil War re-enactment.  We're building family memories alongside all that history. 

How to Get There:    From the east, take the Eisenhower Expressway west or the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) toward Aurora. Exit at Naperville Road and make a left turn at the end of the exit ramp onto Freedom Drive. Take the 3rd right onto E. Diehl Road. Turn left onto N. Washington St. Turn right at the stoplight on Aurora Avenue and go two blocks to Webster Street. Turn left on Webster Street and
proceed one block for parking. 

From the west, take the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) east toward Chicago. Exit at Winfield Road and turn right (south) at the end of the ramp. Proceed to the stoplight at Diehl Road and turn left (east) to Washington Street. Turn right on Washington Street and proceed south into downtown Naperville. At the stoplight at Aurora Avenue, turn right and go west  two blocks to Webster Street. Turn left on Webster Street and proceed one block for parking. 

From the north, take Route 59 south to Aurora Avenue. Please note: Aurora Avenue turns into East New York Street west of Route 59. Turn left (east) on Aurora Avenue; proceed to Webster Street. Turn right on Webster Street and proceed one block for parking. 
 
From the south, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to I-355 North (Veterans Memorial Tollway). Exit at Maple Avenue West. Proceed about seven miles into downtown Naperville. Maple Avenue will turn into Chicago Avenue after Naper Boulevard. Turn left (south) at Washington Street, and go one block to Aurora Avenue. Turn right (west) onto Aurora Avenue. Go two blocks to Webster Street, turn left and continue one block for parking.

Insider Information:  Civil War Days is just the tip of the iceberg (or should I say cannon) when it comes to special events and programs at Naper Settlement.  From the summer camps for kids to the Celebration of Beer for adults, there’s something for everyone.

Nearby Food:  Food vendors on the premises during Civil War Days offer the usual hot dogs, hamburgers and fries.  Naper Settlement is a block away from Naperville’s renowned Riverwalk
Area and enough restaurants to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

Joan
6/10/2013 04:59:52 am

Enjoyed this visit to Naper Settlement with you & your family. Love the chapel where you were married; reminds me of Sweden.

Sherry
6/11/2013 09:51:42 am

You're right, Joan. The chapel does have a Swedish flavor to it.

Diane link
6/14/2013 05:52:52 pm

Of all the things I have learned about you that is one I didn't know (married Jim at Naper Settlement). Cool.

Sherry
6/15/2013 08:38:51 am

I have all kinds of surprises up my sleeve.


Comments are closed.

    About

    I'm searching for more meaning, magic and mystery in life through travel.  If you're searching for more info about me click on this link.   

    Categories

    All
    Attractions
    Botanic Gardens
    Cities
    Cruises
    Culture
    Europe
    Food
    Fun Foto Friday
    How You Venn?
    Islands
    Lake Geneva
    Life's Mysteries
    Middle East
    Museums/Memorials
    National Historic Landmark
    North America
    Nothing To Do With Travel
    Parks/zoos
    Photos
    Random Thoughts
    Restaurants
    This Thing Called Travel
    Top Ten
    Tuesday Travelista
    UNESCO World Heritage Site
    Who Knew?
    Zen Travel Moment

    View travelbug's photos on Trover

    Blog Roll

    This Is Indexed
    NatGeo Travel
    Science Dump
    Traveler Writers Exchange
    Matador 
    Brain Pickings
    House By the Sea
    Time Goes By
    The Happiness Project
    Dictionary of Obscure 
       Sorrows

    For Automatic Blog Updates
    in same time click the RSS Feed button below and sign up for email notices or click the Like button below for automatic updates to your Facebook page. 

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly