Naperville Heritage Society Celebrates Half-Century Milestone

From Naper Settlement: The administrators of Naper Settlement, the Naperville Heritage Society celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2019. From humble beginnings as a grass-roots community organization, the Naperville Heritage Society has evolved into the administrators of an award-winning, nationally accredited regional destination museum. “Throughout 2019, we are celebrating our accomplishments over the past fifty years, honoring the many whose horizons have become our frontiers. Celebrating our past but with an eye to the future, we look forward to delivering another fifty years and growing the museum into a campus of life-long learning, discovery, and fun where you can meet your neighbor, make life-time memories, and learn who you are,” said Rena Tamayo Calabrese, president and CEO of Naper Settlement.

In 1969, a group of volunteers banded together to save the St. John’s Episcopal Church from demolition. After significant fundraising, the group saved the building, transporting it to the city-owned grounds surrounding the museum at the Martin Mitchell Mansion on June 17, 1970. In the last fifty years, the Society has become the administrators of Naper Settlement, the City’s museum, which is now home to twenty-three historical structures dating back as early as the 1830s. The museum serves the community of Naperville via live interpretation of its buildings, inclusive experiences for patrons of all ages, engaging exhibitions and programs, and an active collection program.

For the Society, its birthday is a testament not only its legacy, but the future for Naperville and beyond. “As a native son of Naperville, it is a privilege to lead the Naperville Heritage Society and particularly rewarding now as we celebrate this tremendous institutional milestone. I am certain that the Naperville Heritage Society’s message to instill a sense of cultural identity, curiosity, personal reflection, and joy of learning inspires the dreamers, thinkers, and makers of our time and will continue to resonate across our cultural and national landscape,” stated John Koranda, chair of the Naperville Heritage Society’s board of directors.

Naper Settlement is hosting several events and programs throughout the year in conjunction with the Naperville Heritage Society’s Anniversary. Highlights include:

NHS|50: Treasures and Chronicles

This exhibit details the life of the Naperville Heritage Society, from its inception to today. The exhibit runs February 28-May 19, 2019.

Hometown Picnic – Sunday, June 9

This annual event will feature pie-eating, old-time baseball, music, and games from the past fifty years.

Wedding Celebration – Summer 2019

Couples wed in the building that started it all, Century Memorial Chapel, are invited for a celebration of their marriage and the legacy of the Naperville Heritage Society. More information will be available soon.

2019 Naper Nights Concert Series – June, July, & August 2019

The 2019 Naper Nights Concert Series will celebrate important milestones in conjunction with the Society’s anniversary. More information on the line-up will be available soon.

Image via Naper Settlement