Open Gate

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the August 2024 issue.

Naper Settlement unveils new entrance to its historical grounds

Though primarily focused on history, Naper Settlement has cast an eye to the future with the ribbon cutting and official grand opening of its Birck Family Innovation Gateway, a 4,800-square-foot welcome center that provides an improved and accessible entrance for the living history museum’s 13-acre campus, as well as rental space for wedding receptions, meetings, lectures, and workshops. Visitors currently can view the museum’s new welcome video, Naperville: Looking Back Is Looking Forward, while staff members continue to work on developing a new digital experience for the Gateway that will encourage visitors to self-curate and upload their own history journeys using a variety of files, photos, and more.

Photo: Jeffrey Ross Photography