On April 13, 2006, in commemoration of the City’s 175th anniversary, the City of Naperville purchased the original Joseph and Almeda Naper Homestead, located at the southeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and Mill Street, due to its historical significance. Subsequently, two on-site archeological digs managed by the Naperville Heritage Society, conducted in 2006 and 2007, revealed foundation elements of four different structures that once stood on the site, as well as more than 25,000 artifacts.

Once this work was completed, an ad-hoc committee consisting of Naperville Heritage Society, City staff and volunteers recommended the vacant Naper Homestead property be transformed into a self-guided historic interpretive site commemorating Naperville’s founding family, Captain Joseph and Almeda Naper. In October 2010, the State of Illinois announced that the Naperville Heritage Society/Naper Settlement received a $350,000 grant through the Public Museum Capital Grant Program for the Naper Homestead project. These funds were used to construct the self-guided historic interpretive site, obtain exhibit signage, site artifact storage and as seed money for future public art.

The ribbon cutting was held November 2 and attendees had the opportunity to walk through the finished site and learn more about Naperville’s history from two of Naper Settlement’s costumed interpreters. Members of the public also had the chance to view a rendition of the future Joseph Naper statue that will stand at the homestead created by Naperville resident and former “Dick Tracy” comic strip cartoonist Dick Locher.

Joseph Naper Statue
Joseph Naper was a visionary businessman and patriot with a desire to improve his family and community. His education and life experience forged a deep-seated desire to build and explore. Naper’s will and determination to succeed inspired many to follow him. He was a public servant elected and appointed to positions of community trust.

Joseph Naper created more than a physical place to call home. He created a community that to this day embraces the ideals of freedom and democracy.

• Born c. 1798 Bennington, Vermont
• Married Almeda Landon September 25, 1823
• Father of seven children: Robert, Elizabeth, William, Thomas, Mark, Bertha and Maria
• Established Naper’s Settlement July 1831
• Elected President of the newly incorporated Village of Naperville May 1857
• Died August 23, 1862 in Naperville, Illinois

Statue Facts
The Naperville Heritage Society partnered with nationally recognized, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and artist Dick Locher to conceive an image of Naperville’s town founder, Joseph Naper, at the time the community was settled in 1831.

With the help of Naperville’s Century Walk public art initiative, the Heritage Society selected artist Jeff Adams to sculpt the Locher design and cast it in bronze. Located near the figure of Naper is another bronze sculpture of a hewn tree stump with an axe and surveyor’s tools. The ensemble conveys the relationship between the wilderness and the established settlement.

• Height of statue – 9 ½ feet
• Statue cast in 13 pieces; tree stump in 8 pieces
• Statue weight - 2,000 lbs. of bronze
• Stump and tools weight – 500 lbs. of bronze
• Historically accurate clothing and tools
• Naper’s image recreated as a young 33 year old
• Statue dedicated August 23, 2013

Creating the image of Joseph Naper as he makes his initial survey and plans for Naper’s Settlement, represents one of the peaks of my artistic career. In recreating this historic event, I tried to capture not only the historic significance, but also the excitement of that very moment in time, which would lead to the creation of one of the most famous and popular cities in Illinois. Concept Artist, Dick Locher

It was exciting to bring Big Joe to life as a 10-foot sculpture. I was particularly challenged, working from the only known photograph of a serious and dignified Joseph Naper in old age, to sculpt a likeness of the same man with the confidence and determination of a younger man. My apprentice, Ryan Hartman was a great help. His talents are especially noted in his work on the tree stump ensemble. Artist and Sculptor, inBronze Foundry, Jeff Adams

See the Joe Naper Extra