The DuPage Children's Museum- Fun hand's-on learning for all ages.

630-637-8000


                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                

                                                                                                                           
City of Naperville's Riverwalk Page          
Naperville Nightlife's Riverwalk Page



Paddle Boats Rental at the Quarry
Located across from Centennial Beach, the Quarry is
open all non-school days, Spring through Fall. 
Colorful foot-powered Paddleboats can be
rented for a small fee.


                                                                                                                

Downtown Naperville    At Jackson between Eagle
and Webster streets.

630-848-5000    




The Summerplace Theater at Central High School
On Aurora Street at West St.  Naperville's impeccable Community
theater since the 1960's.   
2009 Season tickets now available.  Pick up tickets now!
630 355-7969


                                                                                                                              
Historic Homes Tour
Plan a tour of Downtown Naperville's Historic and Plaqued homes.     



 

                                                                                                                  

Naper Nuts & Sweets - Gourmet Chocolate, Popcorn, & More!                      

The DuPage Symphony at Wentz Hall
171 E. Chicago Ave
Naperville Illinois 60540

 




The Magic Starlight Theater
320 W. Jackson Avenue
Naperville Illinois 60540
Past performances have i

Saint's Peter & Paul Church - Don't miss seeing this stunning Church built in 1924, for $350,000.

36 N. Ellsworth Avenue
Naperville Illinois 60540

  Naperville Art League & Gallery



  508 N. Center Street
  Naperville Illinois 60540

Coldwater Creek Spa - Go ahead, treat yourself to a day at the spa!  Ahhhh...

55 S Main Street
Naperville Illinois 60540
630 527-9298

Zazu Salon of Naperville - Looking for your
"hot new look"?    You can trust the ladies of ZAZU!

135 S Washington
Naperville Illinois 60540
630 355-2230

Pottery Bayou - Create a Masterpiece!  You choose the
figurine, paint it, and Bayou does the rest!

117 Water Street
(on the south side of the River, west of Eagle Street)
Naperville Illinois 60540

Serendipity Store    
12 W Jefferson
Naperville Illinois 60540
This is a 2nd hand store run by volunteers.  All proceeds
benefit Little Friends Organization.

Check it out for great bargains on clothes, collectibles,
toys, artwork, and more.

Central Park
Located north on Washington Street at VanBuren street, it is one of Naperville's gems.  In the late 1800's it was the original "Town Square", complete with courthouse and jail (no longer there, but a rock and plaque commemorating where the building was located is).  If you enjoy parks you see in old-time movies, check out our Central Park.

The First Congregational Church
The Oldest Church in DuPage county!.           

Located north of Central Park, across Benton street. 
This is the oldest church in Dupage county, founded in July 1833!

If it's open, treat yourself to a peek inside.

   The Old Nichols Library
    Naperville's First Public Library.
    It opened on September 22, 1898. 

Nichols Library on Jefferson street 2 blocks west of downtown.                       

This is no ordinary library! It has been voted the #1 library in America for 7 years in a row!
Offering a quiet place to relax and get out of the weather too.
Snack and pop machines on the lower level. 
Huge children's library on the lower level.

5th Avenue Station - Built in 1850 as a furniture manufacturing building Today it is retail & condos.
Read all about it HERE, on the Haunted Places page.

While visiting 5th Avenue Station, be sure to check out the Cafe Buonaro Restaurant as well as the Mediterranean cuisine of Raffi's.

1946 Train Wreck Sight                                
Visit the sight of one of the worst train wrecks in American History! 
It happened in the heart of Naperville in 1946.

Read about it HERE, on the Haunted Places page

Skateboard Park - The kids will go wild for our spectacular
 Skateboard Park!  You can relax under a tree along the river while
 the kids have a ball on their rollerblades or skateboards!
 Don't forget to bring a picnic!   Get your Brown's Chicken picnic lunch HERE!

Naperville Cemetery - Opened in 1856, our cemetery is fascinating.  Read about the Naperville Cemetery Here.   
Don't forget to visit the grave of Naperville's superstar cowboy: Otto Klein!  Read about Naperville's Otto Klein here. 
Also interred here is our town's founder: Joseph Naper, and
Revolutionary War Soldier John Dudley.

9/11 Memorial on the Riverwalk - Our town's memorial to the lives lost on 9/11, including one of our own who perished in the Pentagon.  The memorial, named "Freedom isn't Free", includes an I-beam from one of the twin towers.  May we never forget.

Veteran's Plaza Memorial onthe Riverwalk - Our town's memorial to the lives lost on fighting for American freedom.

The Pre-Emption House Museum - On Aurora Ave at Webster.
A reproduction of the outside of the original Pre-emption House that stood on Main street where Sullivan's steakhouse today stands.  The original Preemption house was a Hotel, Restuarant, Stable, Saloon, and more. Todays "Preemption House" is a museum to Naperville's incredible history.  Don't miss it! 

Feed the Ducks! On the Riverwalk!                                       
Naperville's beautiful Riverwalk is teeming with nature. Spectacular ducks of all types swim our waters hoping for a few crumbs to be tossed their way.  The kids will have a ball.
Two requests though: first, feed the ducks only whole wheat material or the proper seed -white flour breads are not healthy for them. And second, please do NOT feed the Geese.  They are bothersome and can bite.

Let's go Fishin!  In the River or the Quarry
Our waters are bursting with many types of aquatic life (even large snakes!).  Both the river and the Quarry (Paddleboat Quarry) are great ways to spend a lazy day...

Civil War Cannon in Central Park - Check out an authentic Civil War Cannon up close.  The kids can even sit on it for a memorable photo.

Back in "the old days" this puppy would actually get fired on 4th of July!


Picnic in Centennial Park on the Riverwalk.
The kids can play in Riverwalk Park while you enjoy a quiet afternoon in one of the most beautiful picnic grounds in Illinois!  Or, leave the kids home and have a lovely, romantic picnic by yourselves!  Get your Brown's Chicken picnic HERE

Visit a Haunted Site!  Naperville is seething with haunted
locations.      


         
Click HERE for a list of easy-to-walk-to places located right in downtown Naperville.

Pfeiffer Hall - North Central College's Theater.  This spectacular building was built in 1926 at a staggering cost of $230,000.00!  Always amazing performances.   A state of the asrt facility.  Did we mention that it's haunted??? 
Read about one of the Pfeiffer Hall hauntings here.

Get tickets and enjoy a spectacular show while you're here.  It's walking distance to dozens of great restaurants too.

and VanBuren Street.
Naperville has made considerable contributions to every major
war effort our country has ever fought - starting with our own
Black Hawk War.  The incredible statue, named Veteran's Valor,
pays honor to the men and women of Naperville who have served
unfailingly in the defense of their country.

Stained Glass Tribute to Naperville's Automotive History - In the wall of the parking Garage on VanBuren and Benton streets, It's called Cars Of The Century 1900 - 2000.

Awesome, Don't miss it.

Note: the Artwork is on the VanBuren Street side.

"Landforms" Sculpture on Riverwalk" - Dedicated in 1984.                    

Sculptor: Jack Arnold.  Commissioned by the Naperville Art League.

Obelisk Memorial in Central Park - Enter Park at Washington and VanBuren Streets.

Erected in 1898, the Obelisk honors those who served in the Black Hawk War - 1832, the Mexican War - 1846-1848, the Civil War 1861-1865, and the Spanish American War of 1898. 

Our Annual Walks & Runs
You can support or paricipate in our incredible Walks and/or Runs for charities and good causes.  Click HERE for more info and schedules.



The Dandelion Fountain - on the Riverwalk.  On Jackson                         
Street and Webster.   This spectacular fountain uses thousands of water jets to replicate a dandelion flower in bloom. 

Don't forget to toss a penny in the pool for the granting of a wish!

"The First House Built in DuPage" Monument
This Marker stands in the spot where the first frame house in Dupage county was erected.  It was built by George Martin, a Naperville businessman and humanitarian.

In the photo, Naperville's Carillon Tower looms in the background.

To get to the marker, proceed south on Eagle street to Aurora Avenue, turn right. Go 1 block to marker on right.

The "Old Main" Building of North Central College -
The college began in Plainfield Illinois.  Naperville bought the college for $25,000, in 1870, and built the "Old Main" building.  This was the first building used for college purposes. 
All classes were taught in the language of German.

FYI: The college was originally called Northwestern.  The name was changed in 1926.

Located 3 blocks east of Washington and 1 block north of Benton.

Abe Lincoln and the Pre-Emption House - On the ground where Sullivan's Restaurant stands.
The story is that Abe Lincoln slept in the Pre-emption House Hotel.  It seems that Lincoln gave an impromptu speech off the Preemption House balcony, on the west side along Main Street, during his stay for the Lincoln/Douglas debates in Naperville.
There is no official record of the speech, but there are written correspondence that refer to it and mention that it happened.

For additional ideas, visit "American Towns - Naperville", click HERE