My history buff friends and I took advantage of a crisp fall afternoon to visit Naper Settlement, a 13-acre outdoor history museum located in Naperville, about 30 minutes southwest of Chicago.

Founded in 1969, it consists of 30 historical buildings, many relocated from original locations and refurbished. Some buildings date back to 1831, when Naperville was founded.

A businesswoman, philanthropist and Naperville resident, Caroline Martin Mitchell left 212 acres of land to the city upon her death in 1936. The settlement sits on part of that land.

There are educational programs, exhibits and guided tours. Visitors can also roam the grounds on their own. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the newest exhibit is We The People: Naperville and the American Story, featuring unique artifacts, local stories and interactive learning stations.

There are many special events throughout the year. Naper Nights Community Concert Series features live music, local restaurants and a children’s area. Recently, seasonal favorites Oktoberfest and Family Spooktacular were held on the grounds.

To end our day we dined at nearby Lazy Dog. After being seated by a big rock fireplace, the manager greeted us with a free garlic bread appetizer as first-time visitors. We added hot honey feta dip and cheese curds for two more appetizers. My main dish of blackened shrimp tacos featured two big tacos, rice and black beans. Filled from the food but enticed by the pumpkin cheesecake, I ordered it to go and thoroughly enjoyed it as a late-night snack.

— John Wroblewski, Special Projects Manager