Light Those Candles
By Naperville Magazine
March 2026 View more Community
By Jeff Banowetz
Naper Settlement launches its yearlong programming for America’s 250th birthday
This year, America’s birthday celebration is starting early. And why not? It’s a big one.
On July 4 the country marks its semiquincentennial. For those whose Latin is rusty, or just have trouble pronouncing that mouthful, it’s perhaps easier to simply refer to it as America’s 250th birthday.
As part of the celebration, Naper Settlement (523 S. Webster St.) will host a yearlong series of exhibits and events to celebrate the milestone and look back on the area’s history. The centerpiece of Naper Settlement’s commemoration is We the People: Naperville and the American Story, an exhibition that opened on Presidents’ Day and will run through the end of the year. “It weaves together American history with local Naperville history,” says Brittany Tepper of Naper Settlement. Exploring the “rights, revolutions and freedoms that have shaped the U.S. from 1776 to today,” the exhibition will feature historical artifacts and hands-on interactive displays.
“It includes a lot more digital interactives than we’ve ever done before,” Tepper adds. One part highlights the role the Bell Labs played in national communication. “A visitor can go through the way that telecommunication has changed over time,” she says. “You can start with Morse code, and sit at a desk and try how that was done. Then there’s an actual telephone switchboard that you can operate. And finally, a computerized switchboard to show that evolution.”
The exhibition is included with daily admission to Naper Settlement, which runs $4 to $6 for nonresidents; admission is free to Naperville residents (with proof of residency) and members. Some special events have separate admission prices.
Naper Settlement has more in store planned for the semiquincentennial. This year’s “Your Friendly Neighborhood Historian” series will dive into some big topics of American history. The programs are run by Andrea Field, Naper Settlement’s curator of history, and by other local historians. “It’s a lecture series, but it’s more conversations and stories about a part of history that you may think you understand but might not know the whole story,” Tepper says. “She does a great job of digging deeper into the topic. There’s always these ‘I didn’t know that’ moments in her presentations, which is always a lot of fun.”
The “You Think You Know…” subjects of the series include “Westward Expansion” (March 19), “The Civil War & Reconstruction” (April 16), “The Great Depression” (May 21), “The World Wars” (Oct. 8), and “How the Suburbs Happened” (Nov. 19). Admission to is $10 or free for members.
Naper Settlement will bring back its Gettysburg Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 3 to commemorate that battle and give visitors a look at life in the area circa 1863, with interactive activities and living-history demonstrations. “This has been a very popular event for us in the past, so we’re very excited to bring it back this year,” Tepper says.
Don’t miss the Abraham Lincoln interpreter delivering the Gettysburg Address inside the historic chapel. At the Civil War Fashion Show, learn about fashion inventions of the 1860s (think cage crinoline skirts). Kids can take part in a hands-on Civil War drilling program (think wooden toy muskets and swords) on the Village Green (preregistration for children ages 6 to 13 required.) The Gettysburg event is included with general admission ($8 to $12; free for veterans as well as kids under 4).
On June 13, July 3, and July 4, Naper Settlement is hosting a National Treasure Escape Room (Family Edition), with teams working to solve puzzles and decode clues around the 13-acre campus. “We’ve done escape rooms before, but we’re looking forward to this National Treasure theme as part of the 250 celebration,” Tepper says. The cost is $15 a person.
Naper Settlement’s Hometown Picnic, taking place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8, packs a 250th birthday theme as well this year, with old-fashioned games, food, and demonstrations throughout the property. Festivities are included with admission ($8 to $12; free for kids under 4).
Finally, craft beer fans can take advantage of two events: Craft by Beer: National Treasure Escape Room (7 to 9 p.m., May 28) that includes some sampling of local favorites, and Craft by Beer: Brewing Revolutions (1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 12), which “raises a glass to America’s spirited past.” It will examine how brewing influenced communities, promoted innovation, and reflected the country’s identity over the last 250 years. Both events are $20 a person and only for those 21 and older; preregistration is required.
For more information, visit napersettlement.org.
For Educators
Naper Settlement offers professional development classes to help teachers explore America’s 250th birthday with their students. Featuring hands-on activities, interactive discussions, and practical teaching strategies to help “bring local history to life in your classroom,” the online programs give tips on how to cover underrepresented perspectives and craft programs that better engage students. History Unplugged: Prepare for the 250, held from 4 to 5 p.m. March 3 for middle schools educators, and from 4 to 5 p.m. May 5 for high school teachers. The cost is $10.
The Medal of Honor Character Development Program is targeted at elementary educators and will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 23. The full-day training program, created by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, provides cross-curricular based resources “based on values embodied in Medal of Honor.” Lessons will help students learn from these examples of “courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism to influence change in their own communities.” The program is free to attend, but registration is required.
Photos: Naper Settlement
