by Carrie Steinweg
LANSING, Ill. (November 3, 2019) – Students in Matthew Tiffy’s Advanced Placement U.S. History Class took a recent field trip to the Naperville and Oak Brook areas. They began with a tour of Naper Settlement, a 12-acre history museum that consists of a collection of 30 historical buildings and gives a glimpse into what Naperville was like in the 19th century. Students watched a blacksmith demonstration and learned about the operation of the area’s early post office.
The class then arrived at North Central College in Naperville for a campus tour and a presentation by Dr. Ann Durkin Keating, a history professor and expert in Chicago history. Keating has authored several books, including The World of Juliette Kinzie: Chicago Before the Fire, Building Chicago: Suburban Developers and the Creation of a Divided Metropolis, and Rising Up from Indian Country: The Battle of Fort Dearborn and the Birth of Chicago. Her talk covered Illinois development that included the I & M Canal and development of township and roads.
The final stop was at Graue Mill and Museum, located on Salt Creek in Oak Brook. Students learned about the water-powered grist mill that was built in 1852 and its role in the Underground Railroad.
The APUSH class is one of several Advanced Placement courses currently offered at TF South. In the spring, following a successful score on the Advanced Placement Exam, students who have completed the course will receive college credit.
TF South High School is located at 18500 Burnham Avenue in Lansing, Illinois.
