Upcoming Museum Closures

The Cottage will be closed in the month of November for museum maintenance. 
Tinker Swiss Cottage may close during the winter months due to weather conditions.
The museum is closed on Mondays. We apologize for any inconvenience.

#You Belong in a Museum

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​In 2023, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens continues our You Belong in a Museum campaign!
 
Throughout the year, we will have lectures, workshops, open houses, family game days, members only night tours, and free admission dates for you to explore what is it like to be a part of the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum!

Join us for these upcoming free admission dates:

September: Every Tuesday & Wednesday
October: 11th, 18th
November: 28th, 29th
December 5th, 19th
 
Don’t miss out! Keep your eyes peeled for announcements for these events and so much more on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtags #youbelonginamuseum and #ibelonginamuseum

Check out our segment from 
Dean on the Streets! 

New Museum Merch!
Visit the Online Gift Shop

Support Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum by purchasing an "80th Anniversary" or "Spooky Season" sweatshirt or "80th Anniversary" t-shirt HERE! 

Sweatshirts are $42 each. T-shirts are $15 each. Tax will be added at checkout. There is no shipping option and pick up is in the Barn Gift Shop. You must include your name and phone number when placing your order online. 

Upcoming Museum Events

Tipsy History at the 
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
September 28th   6-8pm

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum staff at the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois on Thursday, September 28 from 6-8pm as we dive into crazy stories from our local history! 

Participants will receive 3 drink tickets for this two-hour, 21+ event. A walk through of the historic Community Foundation building will be included. 

Tickets: $25/person. Photo IDs are required at the door. 

​Community Foundation of Northern IL
946 N. Second Street
Rockford, IL 61107

Paranormal Tour w/ Expedition Entity
October 13th   7-10pm

Spend Friday the 13th with the spirits of the Tinker family! We are excited to welcome back Expedition Entity this fall. 

Join us for scintillating tales from paranormal experts, listen to audio clips found in the Tinker Cottage, and enjoy a tour with the chance to have your own paranormal encounter. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own equipment (cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, emf). Each event begins in the Barn.

Paranormal Investigation w/ Midwest Ghost Investigators
October 27th  7-11pm 

Did you ever want to see what a real paranormal investigation is all about? This is your chance to find out! Join Midwest Ghost Investigators for a night of fun in the haunted Tinker Cottage! 

This exciting event will let you be the paranormal investigator! Guests will be in small groups as you join the staff in the most active locations in the Cottage. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own equipment (cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, emf). Each event begins in the Barn.

Museum Moonlight Bowling Fundraiser
November 4th   7-9pm

Looking for a fun way to support the museum? Join us for Moonlight Bowling at Forest Hills Lanes on Saturday, November 4th from 7-9pm! 

Tickets are $20/person. Tickets cover the cost of your shoe rental, ball rental, and the games you will play that night. A Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle will take place on site. 

Forest Hills Lanes
7742 Forest Hills Rd. 
Loves Park, IL 61111

6th Annual Trunk-or-Treat
October 8th   1-3pm

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage for our annual free Trunk-or-Treat event! This year we're growing the event larger than ever before.

In addition to the traditional Trunk-or-Treating, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the main floor of the Cottage staged for a Victorian funeral; enjoy live music from the JB Project while checking out multiple food trucks; visit with multiple vendors in a mini-farmers market setting; and spend time at a craft table, receiving a balloon animal, or get a glitter tattoo from Characters 2 Life! 

This event is sponsored by Anderson Toyota, Rockford Heating & Air, Members Alliance Credit Union, Nicholson Hardware, Blaine's Farm & Fleet, Characters 2 Life, and Mrs. Fishers Chips. 

SOLD OUT!
Premier Showing of 
Jack Osbourne's Night of Terror at Tinker Cottage
October 15th   6-8pm

Join us at Veterans Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 15th from 6-8pm for a free viewing of Jack Osbourne's Night of Terror! We are thrilled to showcase the historic Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum on national television and invite you to join us for this special night! After the viewing of the episode, we will host a Q&A with the locals who were involved in the episode. 

Seating is limited, so sign up today HERE! 

True Tales of Things That Go Bump in the Night
Paranormal Tour w/ Haunted Rockford & Terri Reid
October 20th   7-10pm

Celebrate Halloween With Tinker Swiss Cottage and Haunted Rockford! Local authors Terri Reid and Kathi Kresol will be joining us for this special evening of spine-tingling and bone-chilling stories!
Terri Reid, best-selling author of the Mary O’Reilly paranormal series and Kathi Kresol, founder of Haunted Rockford Paranormal Events will share their favorite tales of their own paranormal encounters and other local legends. After the presentation, Samantha Hochmann, Executive Director of Tinker Swiss Cottage will share the history of this unique home and a tour will be included in the admission price. Both Terri and Kathi will have copies of their books for sale.

Rockford's Most Haunted 
October 28th  6-11pm

Haunted Rockford is honored to be a part of this special event! We will be visiting three historical locations in Rockford: Veterans Memorial Hall, Tinker Swiss Cottage and Graham-Ginestra House.

All of these sites have reported ghostly encounters and paranormal happenings. The history of these fascinating locations will be shared by the staff of the locations and Kathi Kresol. Spirit medium Sara Bowker will join us to share her impressions of those who might linger in the halls. We will also have experienced paranormal investigators who will share their equipment to help capture evidence.

This exciting evening begins and ends at the Veterans Memorial Hall. Guests will be sorted into smaller groups and given directions for their tour. The guests will travel on their own to each location. The guests will join in a mini-investigation led by the different paranormal teams. Guests may bring their own equipment or share the investigator’s. Guests will visit all three locations before returning to the Veterans Memorial Hall for a discussion on the findings.

​Doors open at 5:30 PM at Veterans Memorial Hall. This event will include members of the Society for Anomalous Studies, Ghost Head Soup and Midwest Ghost Investigators. 
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum            411 Kent St. Rockford, IL 61102              P: (815)964-2424              info@tinkercottage.com 
*All header images provided by © Rockford Park District - Photo by Jesse Fox

Contact Us

Have questions? Want to check in before you arrive? Ask us here!