Naperville: The Naper Settlement

Naperville, Illinois is home to a very unique piece of property called the Naper Settlement. If you are trying to come up with some traditional ideas for a Web design concept, spend the afternoon here with the costumed interpreters and you are sure to get some material that you can work with. The property has 30 historic buildings that are located on 13 acres, and visiting each of them makes you feel as though you have been transported back in time.

The buildings that are on the grounds include a blacksmith shop, a print shop and a Victorian mansion. There is also a fort, a schoolhouse and a chapel that you can visit to round out the imagery. After spending some time at the settlement, you can begin to get a feel for what life was like long ago. Look for things that are symbolic to represent the traditional American lifestyle–they are all around you here.