Walking tours to look at city's architecture

East side, West side, all around the town.

Area residents will know a lot more about what's all around Naperville by joining in architectural walking tours offered by the Naper Settlement.

Bryan Ogg, research associate at the 19th-century museum village, said a tour he led of Naperville's west side in May for Community Heritage Month was so well-received the settlement decided to expand the program.

"We had over 42 people sign up," he said. "I ended up doing three different tours over three different days."

On Sunday, Ogg will lead an hourlong "Architectural Walking Tour: East Side" starting at 3 p.m. from the east side parking lot of North Central College's Old Main, 30 N. Brainard St. Ogg said the tour will feature buildings on the North Central campus such as Old Main and Pfeiffer Hall, as well as churches and homes in the neighborhood. Some Queen Anne homes dating to the late 1880s and 1890s once housed prominent Naperville citizens.

"There will be about 30 homes or buildings that will be highlighted," he said. "We'll talk about the history of the neighborhood."

Naper Settlement will continue the series with an "Architectural Walking Tour: Downtown" starting at 3 p.m. Aug. 17 at the northwest corner of Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. The tour will spotlight some of the oldest commercial buildings in a downtown that has thrived since the 1830s.

"It will be a fresh look at old Naperville," Ogg said.

Tours are limited to 20 participants. Tickets are $10, or $9 for Naperville Heritage Society members. For reservations, call (630) 420-6010. In case of rain, the tours will be rescheduled for the following week.

If you go

What: Architectural Walking Tour: East Side

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: From the east parking lot at North Central College's Old Main, 30 N. Brainard St., Naperville

Cost: $10

Details: Tour of downtown Naperville planned for Aug. 17

Info: (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.museum