Upcoming Museum Closures

Tinker Swiss Cottage will be closed on June 25th and July 4th. 
Tinker Swiss Cottage may also close during the winter months due to weather conditions.
We apologize for any inconvenience. 

#You Belong in a Museum

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In 2019, 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:

June: 4th, 12th, 19th
July: 10th, 17th
August: 15th, 21st, 28th
​September: All Tuesdays
 
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

Fairy Tale Tea Party
​July 13th             10:00am

Calling all princesses, princes and creatures of all kinds!
Are you looking for an afternoon fit for the whole family?

Tinker's Fairy Tale Tea is an adventure for everyone! 
We encourage all of those attending to join in the fun and dress as their favorite character!
 
Enjoy three delectable courses of kid approved favorites including, scones, sandwiches, and dessert to compliment your endless amount of tea.

​Special princess appearances and music will be provided by Once Upon A Dream Performances! Join our special guests in songs, stories and lots of tea party goodies!

A first floor tour of the Tinker Cottage is included in the cost of the tea.

**Reservations are REQUIRED**

Speakeasy Murder Mystery 
July 27th              6:00pm

​Dust off your flapper dress, zoot suits and Tommy guns and get  ready for your Roaring Twenties Murder Mystery Party! At the height of prohibition, morale was high, morals were at an all-time low, and most of the country was controlled by the Mafia. 

At this cozy little hot spot, hidden in the old Tinker mansion, you will find the best night scene around. Drink, dance, sing and mingle with other like-minded individuals but be careful, wherever there is liquor there is always the mafia…and the police. On a night like tonight, with tensions running high, you might get caught in the middle of a bloody dispute. Enjoy your night but keep your guard up, we’d hate to lose any of our clientele!

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!

Paranormal Tour with 
Midwest Ghost Investigators
June 14th       7:00pm 

Tinker Swiss Cottage is excited to bring back Midwest Ghost Investigators for this night of spook-tacular fun! 

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 with Haunted Rockford and Ghost Research Society
​July 19th                     7:00pm 

Haunted Rockford is thrilled to partner with Tinker Swiss Cottage to bring the renowned Ghost Investigator Dale Kaczmarek and his Ghost Research Society (GHS) to investigate this exciting location. There have been many claims to paranormal experiences in this historic home, and it was featured on the SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters Paranormal Show.  Guests will meet up for the investigation at the barn.  We will travel through four “hot spots”  in an actual paranormal investigation.
Haunted Rockford’s Kathi Kresol and Tinker Cottage Executive Director Samantha Hochmann will share the history of the houses and details of the ghostly encounters, and then team members from GHS will show you how to operate their equipment. Guests may also bring their own equipment to use on the investigation.
The price of this event is $40.00 and must be paid in advance.  To register for this event on this website, you must pay via PayPal at the time of registration. Registration orders made online and not paid via PayPal at the time of registration will be canceled.
To make other arrangements, please call Kathi at 815-871-4239.
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!