Naperville Historic District

Naperville's historic district takes in most of the older core of the city on the West Branch of the Du Page River, about 28 miles southwest of Chicago. Of roughly 615 structures, 71 were judged especially significant. Two-story frame houses are the most common building type, and Italianate is the dominant style, alongside Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Prairie School and Medieval Revival buildings. Three houses are attributed to Harry Robinson. Landmarks include the 1870 North Central College main building by John Van Osdel, the 1898 Nichols Library, Paw Paw Station of 1833, Joseph Naper's general store of 1847-9, and the Kroehler furniture factory. The town was platted in 1842 and grew through plow making, breweries, nurseries, quarrying, the railroad and furniture manufacturing, with education a second strong force. The district was listed because its buildings still show how Naperville developed as a largely independent small city before recent suburban expansion, even though new construction and parking lots have intruded.