What Naper Settlement does

Naper Settlement is a nonprofit outdoor history museum operated by the Naperville Heritage Society under a management agreement with the City of Naperville, situated on a 13-acre campus of 34 preserved historic structures in downtown Naperville, Illinois. The institution maintains a permanent collection of nearly 80,000 items and delivers its core product through a portfolio of on-site exhibits (Building Naperville: Tallgrass Prairie to Today, the We the People: Naperville and the American Story exhibit, and the Thresher Experience), an early-learning playscape and splashpad, a live blacksmith shop, free online exhibits, and year-round programming including field trips, Camp Naper day camps, scout programs, and adult lecture series. Recent technical investments include the Birck Family Innovation Gateway with its award-winning introductory film and the Thresher Experience's Digital AI Characters, which provide text-based conversational interactivity inside the Herman and Anna Hageman Memorial Thresher Hall. Underlying technology is conventional museum infrastructure (CivicPlus CMS for web, Blackbaud-hosted ticketing and memberships, iCalendar and Google/Bing Maps integrations) without any public API or developer-facing platform.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack combining tiered museum admission ($6-$12 depending on season and demographic, with free admission for Naperville residents, members, and active military, plus a $1 Museums For All rate), annual memberships across five Settlement tiers ($50-$260), ticketed special events (Naper Nights, Oktoberfest, Family Spooktacular, Howlin' at the Moon), inquiry-based venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, farmers market vendor fees from 35+ vendors, event sponsorships, charitable donations and capital campaigns, and government grants. Go-to-market is hybrid: self-serve walk-in and online ticketing for consumers, inbound group tour and field trip sales for schools, inquiry-based rentals for events, and a curated marketplace model for the Farmers Market. The institution serves local Naperville families and residents, K-8 school groups from Districts 203 and 204 plus private schools, adult learners, museum members, private event hosts, and a national audience for its free online exhibits.

Name

Naper Settlement

Legal name

Naperville Heritage Society

Website

https://napersettlement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Naper Settlement is a nonprofit outdoor history museum on a 13-acre, 34-structure campus in downtown Naperville, Illinois, serving local families, K-8 school groups, adult learners, and event hosts through admissions, memberships, special events, venue rentals, and a farmers market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission Fees: Ticket sales for museum entry at tiered prices (Adult $12, Senior $10, Youth $8, Veteran $9 in May-Sept; Adult $6, Senior $5, Youth $4, Veteran $5 in Oct-April). Free admission for Naperville residents with proof of residency, museum members, and active military (Blue Star). Discounted $1 admission via Museums For All with EBT/WIC.
2. Memberships: Annual membership program with tiered pricing: Settlement-1 ($50, 1 person), Settlement-2 ($85, 2 people), Settlement-4 ($155, 4 people), Settlement-6 ($200, 6 people, includes 1/2 price admission for 4 guests), Settlement-8 ($260, 8 people). Includes free admission and special event access.
3. Special Event Tickets: Ticketed special events including Naper Nights Concert Series ($25/Adult, $15/Child), Craft by Beer trivia and history events ($20/Adult 21+), Family Spooktacular, Howlin' at the Moon (21+), Oktoberfest, and Holly Jolly Days.
4. Venue Rentals: Facility rentals for weddings, banquets, corporate events, meetings, and large-scale events across multiple spaces including Century Memorial Chapel & Heritage Hall, Birck Family Innovation Gateway, Meeting House, Pre-Emption House Tavern, grounds, and picnic areas. Pricing is inquiry-based and dependent on space.
5. Donations and Grants: Charitable giving via Donate page, Never Settle Capital Campaign Phase II, Sponsorship program, Naperville Heritage Society Plaque Program, and Donate to the Collection. Public grants received include a $187,003 Illinois DCEO tourism grant (2023) and a $350,000 Public Museum Capital Grant (2010).
6. Farmers Market Vendor Fees: Booth fees collected from 35+ local vendors participating in the weekly Naper Settlement Farmers Market (Tuesdays, 3-7 PM, June-September). Sponsored by Woody Buick-Naperville, West Side Tractor, and Midwest Mechanical.
7. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for Naper Nights (Premier Stage, Presenting, Featured, Event tiers) and Farmers Market (Market, Grow, Gather tiers). 2026 sponsors include Wells Fargo, Busey Bank, Leafguard, Jersey Mike's, School of Rock, Hampton Inn, and BMO, among others.
8. Education Programs and Field Trips: Fee-based and free educational programming including elementary/middle school field trips ($8/student for Time Travel Trip), educator workshops (Steven Spangler STEM workshop), homeschool programs, scout programs, summer day camps (Camp Naper), and adult learning experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Naper Settlement is an award-winning outdoor history museum operating on a 13-acre campus featuring 34 historic structures in downtown Naperville, Illinois. It sells general admission to its permanent and rotating exhibits (Building Naperville, We the People, Thresher Experience), ticketed special events (Naper Nights, Oktoberfest, Family Spooktacular, Howlin' at the Moon), a Farmers Market, venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, school field trips and education programs, and an annual membership program.

Product overview

Naper Settlement operates as a single integrated outdoor history museum rather than a multi-product software platform. The core offering is admission to its 13-acre, 34-structure campus in Naperville, Illinois, anchored by three permanent/flagship exhibits — Building Naperville: Tallgrass Prairie to Today, the We the People: Naperville and the American Story exhibit, and the Thresher Experience — plus the Rita (Fredenhagen) and John Harvard Early Learning Playscape & Splashpad and the live Blacksmith Shop. Layered on top are two free online exhibits (Unvarnished: Housing Discrimination in the Northern and Western United States, and How I See What I See), a year-long USA 250 Celebration program, special events (Naper Nights, Oktoberfest, Family Spooktacular, Howlin' at the Moon, Farmers Market, Naperville Fine Art & Artisan Fair), a multi-track education portfolio (field trips, Camp Naper, Scout programs, family STEM, escape rooms, Your Friendly Neighborhood Historian lectures), facility rentals, and a five-tier Settlement membership program. The Thresher Experience notably embeds Digital AI Characters as part of the visitor experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Naper Nights Community Concert Series: A summer community concert series held on the 13-acre grounds of Naper Settlement featuring tribute acts and themed concerts.
• Building Naperville: Tallgrass Prairie to Today
• We the People: Naperville and the American Story
• Naper Settlement Farmers Market
• Rita (Fredenhagen) and John Harvard Early Learning Playscape
• Thresher Experience

Products and services

• Museum Admission to 13-Acre Outdoor Campus
• We the People: Naperville and the American Story
• Thresher Experience
• Building Naperville: Tallgrass Prairie to Today
• Museum Collection Research Access
• Unvarnished: Housing Discrimination in the Northern and Western United States
• How I See What I See
• Naper Nights Concert Series
• Oktoberfest
• Family Spooktacular
• Howlin' at the Moon (21+)
• Naper Settlement Farmers Market
• Naperville Fine Art & Artisan Fair
• USA 250 Special Programs & Events
• Education Programs (Field Trips, Camps, Scouts, Family STEM, Escape Rooms)
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Historian Lectures
• Event Rentals (Weddings, Meetings, Banquets, Large-Scale Events)
• Membership Program (Settlement-1 / -2 / -4 / -6 / -8)
• Support Programs (Donate, Volunteer, Sponsorship, Never Settle Campaign)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 33,000 attendees at special events in 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered major, moderate and minor.

• Wells FargomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWells Fargo is the Presenting Sponsor of Naper Nights Concert Series 2026. As a presenting sponsor, Wells Fargo receives prominent brand visibility across the concert series materials.
• Woody Buick-NapervillemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWoody Buick-Naperville is the Premier Stage Sponsor of Naper Nights Concert Series 2026 and also the Market Sponsor of the Naper Settlement Farmers Market 2026.
• West Side TractormoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerWest Side Tractor is the Grow Sponsor of the Naper Settlement Farmers Market 2026.
• Midwest MechanicalmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerMidwest Mechanical is the Gather Sponsor of the Naper Settlement Farmers Market 2026.
• Busey BankmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerBusey Bank is a Featured Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• LeafguardmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerLeafguard is a Featured Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• Marker & Associates Attorneys at Law P.C.moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerMarker & Associates is a Featured Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• Naperville Bank and TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaperville Bank and Trust is an Event Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• BMOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBMO is an Event Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026 (uswealth.bmo.com).
• Jersey Mike'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJersey Mike's is an Event Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• School of RockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool of Rock is an Event Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• Hampton Inn by HiltonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHampton Inn by Hilton is an Event Sponsor of Naper Nights 2026.
• Illinois HumanitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois Humanities is a Community Partner supporting the free, facilitated 'Community Conversations: History Belongs to All of Us' series exploring the founding of the United States through the lens of local history. Programs scheduled June 27, July 3, and July 25, 2026.
• Naperville Woman's ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaperville Woman's Club presents the 66th Fine Art & Artisan Fair at Naper Settlement on June 27-28, 2026, 10 AM-5 PM. The longest continuously running art fair in Illinois, featuring over 100 juried artists. Naper Settlement closes for touring during this rental event.
• A.D.O.P.T. Pet ShelterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter is a 2026 Community Partner of Naper Nights - volunteers staff the beverage tents on June 19 and tips raised go to the nonprofit.
• Alive CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlive Center is a 2026 Community Partner of Naper Nights - volunteers staff the beverage tent on August 14 and tips raised go to the nonprofit.
• Naperville American Legion Post 43minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaperville American Legion Post 43 is a 2026 Community Partner of Naper Nights - volunteers staff the beverage tent on July 18.
• ALMAS (Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerALMAS is a 2026 Community Partner of Naper Nights - volunteers staff the beverage tent on July 17.
• Kyle Zuleg FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKyle Zuleg Foundation (kyleshineson.org) is a 2026 Community Partner of Naper Nights - volunteers staff the beverage tent on June 20.
• Naperville Junior Woman's ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaperville Junior Woman's Club is a 2026 Community Partner of Naper Nights - volunteers staff the beverage tent on August 15.
• Naperville Neighbors United (NNU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaperville Neighbors United is a Community Partner supporting Illinois Humanities Community Conversations: History Belongs to All of Us at Naper Settlement.
• Naperville Public LibraryminorOthersNaperville Public Library (630.961.4100) is listed as a research resource for local history research. Available materials include city and county histories, atlases, newspapers, church records, DuPage County census records, and Sanborn maps.
• Illinois Regional History Center (Founders Memorial Library, Northern Illinois University)minorOthersIllinois Regional History Center at Northern Illinois University (815.753.1779) is listed as a research resource for Naper Settlement patrons conducting historical research.
• City of NapervillemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Naperville is the landowner (through Caroline Martin Mitchell's perpetual charitable trust) and management partner. Naper Settlement operates under a management agreement with the City. The City also purchased the original Joseph and Almeda Naper Homestead in 2006 for its historical significance.
• Century Walk (Naperville)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith the help of Naperville's Century Walk public art initiative, the Heritage Society selected artist Jeff Adams to sculpt the Joseph Naper statue based on Dick Locher's design. The statue was dedicated August 23, 2013.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Colonial Williamsburg: The largest outdoor living history museum in the United States, operating a 301-acre campus with dozens of restored historic structures, immersive costumed interpretation, ticketed admissions, memberships, and event rentals — directly comparable to Naper Settlement's outdoor-history-museum model at substantially larger scale.
• Conner Prairie: Indiana-based interactive history park with preserved and recreated historic structures, hands-on exhibits, digital interactive experiences, school field trips, summer camps, and special events — directly comparable to Naper Settlement's blend of historic preservation, interactive exhibits, and education programming.
• Old Sturbridge Village: New England's largest outdoor living history museum featuring a recreated 1830s rural New England town with historic structures, hands-on exhibits, school field trip programs, and ticketed events — closely mirrors Naper Settlement's structure of preserved buildings plus education and event programming.
• Historic Deerfield: A smaller open-air history museum in Massachusetts featuring 12 historic houses, immersive interpretation, education programs, and ticketed admissions — comparable to Naper Settlement at a smaller scale but with a similar preserved-structure and education-focused model.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Massachusetts-based living history museum complex featuring recreated historic structures, immersive interpretation, school programs, ticketed special events, and venue rentals — a strong comparable in scale and operating model to Naper Settlement.
• Mystic Seaport Museum: Connecticut-based outdoor maritime history museum with preserved structures, exhibits, education programs, ticketed special events, and venue rentals — directly comparable in combining historic preservation, immersive exhibits, and event-driven revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford: An 80-acre outdoor history campus integrated into the larger Henry Ford Museum complex in Dearborn, MI, featuring historic structures, rides, demonstrations, and immersive exhibits — a substantially larger analog to Naper Settlement's outdoor-history format with a broader institutional portfolio.

Regional players

• Cantigny Park: A 500-acre public park in Wheaton, IL featuring historic structures, gardens, a museum, and event programming — directly comparable to Naper Settlement as a Chicago-area suburban history campus with ticketed special events and venue rentals.
• DuPage Children's Museum: A Naperville-based interactive children's museum offering hands-on exhibits, memberships, school programs, and family programming — comparable to Naper Settlement's early-learning and family-event offerings within the same local market.

Others

• Naperville Park District: The municipal park district that originally housed Naper Settlement and a key local-government partner providing facilities, programming collaboration, and shared community audiences in the Naperville market — adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NaperSettlement
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@napersettlement
• Facebookfacebook.com/napersettlement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naper-settlement
• Instagraminstagram.com/napersettlement
• Pinterestpinterest.com/napersettlement

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Naper Settlement