'Abraham Lincoln' joins Naper Homestead ribbon-cutting

16th President, State and Local Officials Gather to Dedicate Site Honoring Naperville's Founding Family

Naperville received a surprise visit from Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, during a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 3 dedicating the Naper Homestead historic interpretive site. Portrayed by City Manager Doug Krieger, President Lincoln briefly addressed the crowd and mentioned his previous visits to Naperville.

The event was attended by more than 100 people, including several local and state dignitaries. The homestead, located at the southeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and Mill Street, honors Naperville's founding family, Captain Joseph and Almeda Naper. Purchased by the City in April 2006 to commemorate Naperville's 175th anniversary, two on-site archeological digs in 2006 and 2007 revealed foundation elements of four different structures that once stood on the site, as well as more than 25,000 artifacts.

Attendees had the opportunity to walk through the finished site on Wednesday and learn more about Naperville's history from two of Naper Settlement's costumed interpreters. Members of the public also had the chance to view a rendition of the future Joseph Naper statue that will stand at the homestead created by Naperville resident and former “Dick Tracy” comic strip cartoonist Dick Locher.

An ad-hoc committee consisting of Naperville Heritage Society and City staff and volunteers originally recommended the vacant Naper Homestead property be transformed into a self-guided historic interpretive site. In October 2010, the State of Illinois announced that the Naperville Heritage Society/Naper Settlement received a $350,000 grant through the Public Museum Capital Grant Program for the project. These funds were used to construct the self-guided historic interpretive site, obtain exhibit signage, site artifact storage and as seed money for future public art.

For more information on Naper Homestead, visit www.naperville.il.us/naperhomestead.aspx. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.