Naper Settlement To Reopen July 14 With Restrictions

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naper Settlement will reopen to the public July 14 and will offer free general admission through Aug. 23.

Those who visit the museum can take a ticketed tour of the mansion, a new self-guided mobile tour or a walking tour of the museum that features a demonstration in the blacksmith shop. Pre-registration at Pre-Emption House Visitor Center is required for tours of the mansion or sitewide tours of the museum grounds.

Upcoming exhibits include Women: Waves of Change, which opens Aug. 26 and features stories about women who influenced Naperville and the world. The Brushstrokes of the Past exhibit will be closed due to a ruptured water service line.

The Rita (Fredenhagen) and John Harvard Early Learning Playscape will also reopen, but with limited availability and reservations will be required. Families can visit the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center to reserve a 90-minute time slot to play on the playground and splash pad. The area will be cleaned after each use, Naper Settlement officials said in a news release.

Rena Tamayo-Calabrese, president and CEO of Naper Settlement, said in a statement, "While the visitor experience may be different from previous years, we will continue to safely provide engaging and unique experiences that connect visitors to our history. We are excited to introduce the community to a variety of experiences that promote social distancing and explore Naperville’s history in a new way."

To help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, certain restrictions and safety guidelines will be in place at the museum. Visitors must enter through the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center and must wear masks when inside museum buildings and outside if social distancing cannot be maintained.

Visitor groups must also maintain six feet of social distance from other visitors, according to the museum's website.