Upcoming Museum Closures

Tinker Swiss Cottage may close during the winter months due to weather conditions.
The museum is closed on Mondays. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Museum WILL BE CLOSED April 3-5 for the holiday weekend.
The Museum WILL BE CLOSED May 23-24 for the holiday weekend.
The Museum WILL BE CLOSED May 26-June2 for NAGPRA repatriation.
The Museum WILL BE CLOSED July 4 for the holiday.

#You Belong in a Museum

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​In 2026, 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!

Remember - Get Your History Fix in 2026! 

Join us for these upcoming free admission dates for IL residents:

March: All Tuesdays & Wednesdays
April: All Wednesdays
May: All Tuesdays
June: 3, 10
July: 1, 15
August: 12, 19
September: All Tuesdays
October: 7, 21
November: 4, 11
December: 1, 2, 8, 9
*Please note, IL residents must show proof of residency.

A Brief Overview

Upcoming Museum Events
Click on Event Titles for Tickets

Tinker's Ball at Memorial Hall
March 7th  6-9:30pm

Time travel to the Victorian Era on March 7th at: 
       Veterans Memorial Hall
       211 N. Main Street
       Rockford, IL 61101
You are invited to join Tinker Swiss Cottage for a Civil War-themed Ball at Veterans Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 7th from 6-9:30pm! 

Join us for a night of elegance and history as we transport you back to the Victorian Era. Formal or themed attire is strongly recommended to match the occasion. 

Refreshments provided by: The Sons of Union Veterans and Mary Logan Tent Aux.

Dance Callers: Mr. & Mrs. Gary and Karen Alexander of The Historical Timekeepers

Event Sponsors: Veterans Memorial Hall

Tickets: 
       $15 for guests 12 and older
       $8 for guests 6-12 
​       Children 5 and under are free
       *Tickets will not be mailed out. Your name will be put onto a sign-in sheet for the day of the event. 

Doors open at 5:30pm and dancing commences at 6:00pm! ​

March Storytime
March 10th   10:30am

Sign up HERE!

Friday the 13th Paranormal Tour w/ The Paranormal Professor
March 13th  7-10pm

Celebrate Friday the 13th with a Paranormal Tour at Tinker Swiss Cottage MUseum! 

Special guest, Dr. Joel Ramsey, "The Paranormal Professor," will kick off the evening with an engaging presentation showcasing his previous research and investigations across the Midwest. 

After, join the Tinker Team as we travel through the Cottage sharing a bit of darker history and ghostly encounters with our favorite Victorian family! 

Tinker Visions Breakfast Fundraiser
April 11th  9-10am

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum at the Hoffman House on Saturday, April 11th at 9am for our annual Tinker Visions Breakfast Fundraiser! 

Our mission is to preserve and share the Tinker family legacy and to inspire visitors to connect with history. As the founding site of Rockford, we strive to make our local history engaging, tangible, and relevant.  

Donations and proceeds received from this event go towards the continued preservation and operations of the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum. 

RSVPs are mandatory by April 1st. Come enjoy a delicious breakfast and great fellowship all while supporting the museum! 

April Storytime
April 14th   10:30am

Sign up HERE!

Paranormal Investigation
w/ Larry & DeEtte
April 18th   7-10pm

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage for our first Paranormal Investigation of 2026! We will be joined by investigator Larry Eissler III and psychic medium DeEtte. 

This is your chance to find out what a real paranormal investigation is all about! Guests will join staff and guest investigators in the most active locations in the Cottage. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own equipment (cameras, audio recorders, emf). This event will begin in the Barn. 

This event is limited to 12 guests, so get your tickets today! 

Girl Scout "Gardener"
​Junior Badge Workshop
April 25th   9-11am

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum for a gardening adventure designed especially for Junior Girl Scouts working toward their Gardener Badge!

During this two-hour workshop, scouts will explore how gardens are planned and designed, discover how climate affects what we grow, and learn how gardens can serve purpose within and outside our homes.
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This program will ensure the Girl Scouts will complete all of the requirements to earn this badge. However, the museum will NOT provide badges. 

​Please contact the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois to receive your badge for completing this workshop. Documentation of proof of completion will be provided to you at the end of the workshop.

"Gardening"
Scouting America
Badge Workshop
April 25th   12-2pm

At our next Scouting America Workshop, Scouts will be introduced to the science, responsibility, and environmental impact of gardening. 

​Scouts will complete 5 out of 8 requirements for this badge. Badges are not provided by the museum.​

Scouts will need to complete the following requirements after they leave the workshop:
  • Requirement No. 2: Grow vegetables and 6 flowers.
  • Requirement No. 4: Test 100 seeds for germination.
  • Requirement No. 8: Complete an approved gardening project. (See Scouting America website for details.)

Small Museums Summer Pass Begins! 
​May 1st

More details coming soon!

Rise of the Swiss Cottage
​A D&D Adventure
May 3rd  6-9pm

What begins as a routine stop at a quiet frontier settlement quickly spirals into something far greater when a group of travelers discovers a perplexing relic pulsing with unknown power. 

Now drawn into a conflict larger than themselves, they must decide will they rise as heroes of the galaxy... or be lost among the stars?

** Ideal for experienced players and intrigued newcomers alike, this one-shot adventure features pre-made characters, roleplaying, and numerous surprises. Come and experience an unforgettable evening filled with fantasy, intrigue, and Victorian mischief!

Event Details:
~ Date & Time: Sunday, March 3, 2026, from 6:00 – 9:00 PM
~ Location: 411 Kent St. Rockford, IL, 61102. Carriage House (Building closest to the parking lot).
~ Price: $10 per player.
​~ This event is open to new and experienced players. Characters will be pre-made and ready for gameplay. Costumes are encouraged but not required. 

Tickets to this event are limited to only 8 players, so get yours today! 

May Storytime
May 12th  10:30am

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Sign up HERE!

Tipsy History at Greenwood Cemetery
May 15th  7-9pm

More details coming soon!

Summer Lecture
May 17th  2-4pm

More details coming soon!

"Murder Among the Roses"
A Murder Mystery Dinner
June 5th  6-9pm

It's the late-1800s, and you've been invited to an exclusive and lavish garden party at the grand estate of the Tinker Cottage!

Distinguished guests from across the region have gathered to celebrate the blooming of the spring gardens. But just as the festivities begin, a violent storm rolls in, forcing everyone to abandon the gardens and seek shelter inside the mansion.

What was meant to be a charming social affair is about to take a sinister turn... because unfortunately for the happy party goers, no one knows that there is a killer in their midst who plans to strike tonight! 

For one night only, experience the Murder Mystery Game with a custom dinner at the Rooftop Lounge at the Embassy Suites Hotel!

​You will receive dinner and non-alcoholic beverages at the Embassy Suites before arriving at the museum to play the game. 

Dinner from 6-7pm, then drive over to the museum for the game starting at 7:30pm!

Paranormal Investigation w/ Haunted Rockford
June 12th  7-10pm

Join Haunted Rockford for a Paranormal Investigation of Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum with special guests, Bartel & Henson Paranormal! 

This is your chance to find out what a real paranormal investigation is all about! Guests will join staff and guest investigators in the most active locations in the Cottage. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own equipment (cameras, audio recorders, emf). This event will begin in the Barn. 

June Storytime
June 16th  10:30am

Sign up HERE!

Mysteries at the Museum
​Summer Camp
June 16-19  8am-1pm

Ready for a summer adventure that's off the beaten path? Step back in time with Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum! Kiddos will soak up history while getting hands-on with activities, crafts, games, and more! 

At the Mysteries at the Museum Summer Camp, students will learn how to be inquisitive detectives as we learn about history with the help of the great Victorian detective, Sherlock Holmes! 

High Tea at Tinker Cottage
June 27th  11am-12:30pm

Details coming soon! 

Summer Lecture
​June 28th  2-4pm

Details coming soon! 

Victorian Life
Summer Camp
July 14-17  8am-1pm

Ready for a summer adventure that's off the beaten path? Step back in time with Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum! Kiddos will soak up history while getting hands-on with activities, crafts, games, and more! 

At the Victorian Life Summer Camp, students will experience what life was like for the Victorian family that called the Cottage home! 

Made in Rockford
Summer Camp
August 4-7  8am-1pm

Ready for a summer adventure that's off the beaten path? Step back in time with Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum! Kiddos will soak up history while getting hands-on with activities, crafts, games, and more! 

At the Made in Rockford Summer Camp, students will discover what put Rockford on the map, both nationwide and worldwide!

2026 Illinois Paranormal Conference
October 10th  10am-5pm

Details coming soon!
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum            411 Kent St. Rockford, IL 61102              P: (815)964-2424              [email protected] 
*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!