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Naper Settlement reopens July 14 with new programs, free general admission in July and August

Naper Settlement will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 14, with free general admission through Aug. 23.

The twice, nationally accredited history museum has modified all areas of its operations to accommodate social distancing and safety guidelines set in phase four of the Restore Illinois Plan. For a full list of visitor guidelines, visit NaperSettlement.org/reopen.

In addition to ticketed mansion tours, Naper Settlement has launched several new mobile tours and a sitewide walking tour that will provide an overview of the more than 30 buildings on-site and include a demonstration at the Blacksmith Shop. Both the sitewide walking tour and Martin Mitchell Mansion tour will require advanced registration at the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center.

The Pre-Emption House will be open. Starting Aug. 26, "Women's Equality Day, Naper Settlement's Women: Waves of Change" exhibit will be featured.

To commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment's passage, the exhibit will explore the stories of women, past and present, who were and are foundational in the formation and development of Naperville and beyond. Naper Settlement's "Brushstrokes of the Past" exhibit in the lower-level will remain closed due to damage from a ruptured water service line. Immediate action was taken by the museum staff to ensure the safety of the collections.

The Rita (Fredenhagen) and John Harvard Early Learning Playscape will open with limited capacity and timed reservations. Visitors will be required to register for a 90-minute time slot at the Pre-Emption House Visitor Center prior to utilizing the playground and splash pad. Playscape cleaning will take place in between reservations.

Families with children in first to sixth grade are also encouraged to participate in the museum's new "Summer Slices" program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in July from 1 to 2:30 p.m. From Do-It-Yourself toy-making to a jelly fish adventure, each day will include a new educational activity designed with social distancing in mind.

"Camp Naper" is nearly sold out, with a limited number of spots still available for July 21-23 and 28-30.

"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," said Rena Tamayo-Calabrese, president and CEO of Naper Settlement. "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."

Naper Settlement is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor museum set on 13 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville. Located 30 miles from Chicago, the museum is home to thirty-one historical structures dating back as early as the 1830s. Featuring exhibits, special events, educational programming and more, Naper Settlement is where history comes alive and the community comes to connect. For more information, visit www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.

Founded in 1969, the Naperville Heritage Society is a nonprofit organization and administrator of Naper Settlement, the City of Naperville's museum. With a commitment to the community and a focus to the future, the mission of the Naperville Heritage Society is to collect, document, preserve, and support the history of Naperville, Illinois past and present.

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