We try to show that the people who left everything to brave the wilderness were
everyday people, that history is not just about dates and dead presidents.

The duPage Valley Settlers are a group of Living History Interpreters. Our timeline, centered on the 1830s, encompasses a lifespan from about 1790 to 1850, concentrating on the settlement period of northern Illinois from about 1820 to the coming of the Railroad. Our name recalls the importance of river valleys to travel, trade, & homesteading. We use the old French spelling and the early 1800s pronunciation "doo Pahge" to reflect the days before there was a DuPage County -- a time when settlers still remembered stories of a now nearly forgotten fur trader who explored the river named after him and had a trading post along that river in what is now Will County. We are a group of friends who have been giving Public Interactive Presentations for 20+ years. In any given year we will make from 15-25 presentations primarily at historical societies, nature centers, museums, & schools. Our members are able to perform any Skill or Activity that would be expected of a pioneer in the early 1800s. All tell Stories of their Livelihood on the frontier of early Illinois. As was customary, Music & Song frequents our activities. Our goal is to Enlighten & Entertain in equal measure,                hopefully engaging the Public in a dialogue between the past and the present. If you are interested in joining our group, or engaging us for an event, talk to any of our members. We are always interested in meeting others who love history, want to learn more, and like to share their knowledge.