Naperville Unveils Restored Printed Word Mural

The historic public art piece now resides at Naper Settlement after being recreated by artist Diosdado Morendo.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Historical

Naperville Unveils Restored Printed Word Mural

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A new iteration of The Printed Word, a mural documenting the history of written communication, has been installed at the Naper Settlement in Naperville. The project restores an iconic piece of the city's public art landscape.

Why it matters

The mural preserves the legacy of local communications history following the dissolution of the Century Walk nonprofit. Relocating the piece ensures its survival after previous sites were lost to building changes.

The mural honors Naperville's communication history, with the latest edition featuring 30 years of evolution from printing presses to 3D printing. It is one of 53 art installations across the city.

The players

W. Brand Bobosky

He founded the Century Walk public art initiative in 1996 to bring diverse artistic installations to public spaces.

Diosdado Morendo

He is the artist who painted the third, updated version of the mural between 2023 and 2026.

Stephanie Penick

She is the publisher of Positively Naperville and is featured in the latest edition of the mural.

Timm Etters

He was the original artist of the mural who passed away in 2021.

Naper Settlement

It is a museum and outdoor history campus that currently houses the mural in its Century Memorial Chapel.

The details

Artist Diosdado Morendo recreated the work to include updated symbols like an antique printing press and a 3D printer. The updated mural also features a depiction of publisher Stephanie Penick.

1996: The original mural was painted for the Naperville Sun building.
1998: The mural was relocated to Ellman's Music Center.
2012: The site at Ellman's Music Center was lost.
2023: Artist Diosdado Morendo began the recreation process.
October 21, 2026: The mural was officially unveiled at Naper Settlement.

Culture Shift

The mural restoration follows the pattern set by the Century Walk public art initiative to integrate history into the local landscape. This effort reflects a broader societal shift toward preserving community-specific cultural artifacts through public-private partnerships.

Residents and visitors can view the mural in the lower level of the Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement. The restoration ensures the public maintains access to this landmark as the city's art collection undergoes transitions.

The takeaway

Preserving public art often requires adapting to changing urban footprints over decades. Residents can support local history by visiting community sites that house reinstalled heritage installations.