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Benck Family Agricultural Interpretive Center
Benck Family Agricultural Interpretive Center
The Agricultural Interpretive Center — a new 4,000 square foot exhibition space — will be a state-of-the-art STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) driven center for learning, showcasing Naperville’s rich agricultural history while connecting it to the farming story of the region and the nation. Exhibits and programming will explore agriculture across centuries and changing landscapes. In tracing the story from subsistence farming to large-scale agribusiness, we will show how communities adapted in order to thrive from grit to greatness.
For more information on giving opportunities for the Agricultural Interpretive Center, please contact Naper Settlement's Director of Development, Juliana Nelligan at nelliganj@naperville.il.us or call 630-305-5253.
Ag Lab
With over 35,000 school children from 112 school districts throughout the state coming to Naper Settlement for field trips each year, the Ag Lab, a classroom space located within the Agricultural Interpretive Center, will serve as one of the four educational stops that will showcase the evolution of the agriculture industry in the Ag Hub. The Ag Lab, devoted to STEM-based learning, will serve approx. 25-30 students at one time and 275-325 per day, letting students connect virtually with top scientists in Illinois and nationwide.
Herman & Anna Hageman Memorial Thresher Hall
Through a generous donation from the Wheatland Plowing Match Association, the Naperville Heritage Society acquired a 1912 Wood Bros. threshing machine which was used by many local farmers. With a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) we cleaned, stabilized and preserved the thresher which will be displayed in the new 1,247-square-foot Herman and Anna Hageman Thresher Hall.