Upcoming Museum Closures

Tinker Swiss Cottage WILL BE CLOSED May 28-29 in observance of the holiday weekend.

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 2022, 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:

​May: All Tuesdays
June: 1st, 15th
 
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

Reaching Beyond the Veil: Communicating with the Dead Paranormal Tour
June 18      7-10pm

The Summer Solstice is almost here and in order to celebrate, Haunted Rockford is inviting some of our favorite psychics from the area. Haunted Rockford’s own Sara Bowker and guest Tessa Lentz will share some of their favorite encounters with the dead. There will also be a chance for you to share your own close encounters with the spirit world.

Eve Harker from Luna Datura will be along to share her expertise of protecting yourself and your home from unwanted visitors. The price of admission will include a tour of the Tinker Swiss Cottage led by Executive Director Samantha Hochmann who will share her own chilling tales of this very historic (and haunted!) location!
Tickets are $25 and must be paid in advance. 

Native Americans &
The Great Outdoors
​Summer Camp
June 21-24      8am-1pm

This summer make Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum the place for summertime fun for your child! Children will explore overarching historic themes while participating in activities, games, crafts, and other projects.

​Students will learn about the Native American tribes that called the Northern Illinois region home and how nature impacted their way of life. Come prepared to get messy as we dive into history! 

Tinkering Around with the Tinkers Summer Camp
July 26-29     8am-1pm

This summer make Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum the place for summertime fun for your child! Children will explore overarching historic themes while participating in activities, games, crafts, and other projects.

​Students will experience what life was like for the Victorian family that called the Cottage home.​

Check out our segment from 
Dean on the Streets! 

Tinker's Shadow
​New Documentary of Tinker Swiss Cottage Now Available!

Looking for a fun way to take Tinker home with you? Director Michael Kleen has put together a wonderful new documentary on Tinker Swiss Cottage, titled Tinker's Shadow: The Hidden History of Tinker Swiss Cottage.

​The documentary is available to purchase through Amazon, or you can get your DVD copy in our gift shop! Proceeds will go towards helping us to maintain the Cottage. 

​*Reminder: Please select "Tinker Swiss Cottage" as the benefactor when you shop at smile.amazon.com

Check out the trailer HERE!
​Watch the documentary HERE!

Lecture: "The 'Undergrond Railroad' in the Rock River Valley" 
June 12     2-4pm

In the times leading up to the
American Civil War, Illinois
residents were affected by the
institution of slavery, despite
the state’s status as a declared
free state. Fugitive black slaves
would enter and traverse Illinois
in their attempts to escape slave
catchers and achieve freedom.

Among the primary routes was
the corridor leading from certain
Mississippi River crossings in
Missouri to lower Lake Michigan communities in northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin, through the Rock and Fox River Valleys.
From there freedom seekers were compelled to emigrate to Canada where slave-catching was not allowed.

The Lucius Read house in Byron, Illinois is verified to have been an “Underground Railroad” (UGRR) safehouse, or “Station” in UGRR code terms. It is today a designated “Network to Freedom” site of the U.S. National Park Service.
​
Dan Wykes, Educator at the museum, presents a detailed overview in the guise of an UGRR “conductor.” Visual slides and a display of period artifact reproductions (including firearms as appropriate to the age group and setting of the presentation) support the presentation.

Summer CampMade in Rockford
​Summer Camp
August 16-19     8am-1pm

This summer make Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum the place for summertime fun for your child! Children will explore overarching historic themes while participating in activities, games, crafts, and other projects.

​Students will discover what put Rockford on the map, both nationwide and worldwide!​
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!