Tinker Swiss Cottage strives to promote education through many methods including tours, exhibits, workshops, and lectures.
This summer, we hope to offer you lectures that explore different historical and cultural themes.
All lectures will take place in the lower level of the Barn and are open to the public.
This summer, we hope to offer you lectures that explore different historical and cultural themes.
All lectures will take place in the lower level of the Barn and are open to the public.
"The French in the Mississippi Valley" -Ray Swenson
May 7 2:00pm
Join us for our first summer lecture of 2023!
The history of New France in North America and of the people who lived, worked, and explored the land that we know today as the Mississippi River Valley from Minnesota to Louisiana and from the Appalachians to the Rocky Mountains - this was the land of Nouvelle France.
Presented by Ray Swenson, MA History, retired professor from Rock Valley College, and a Living History lecturer and presenter of American History for the past forty-four years.
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 7th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
The history of New France in North America and of the people who lived, worked, and explored the land that we know today as the Mississippi River Valley from Minnesota to Louisiana and from the Appalachians to the Rocky Mountains - this was the land of Nouvelle France.
Presented by Ray Swenson, MA History, retired professor from Rock Valley College, and a Living History lecturer and presenter of American History for the past forty-four years.
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 7th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
"The Underground Railroad in the Rock River Valley" -Dan Wykes
June 4 2:00pm
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) safe house, or “Station” in UGRR code terms. It is today a designated “Network to Freedom” site of the U.S. National Park Service.
Dan Wykes presents a detailed overview in the guise of an UGRR “conductor.” Visual slides and a display of period artifact reproductions (including firearms asappropriate to the age group and setting of the presentation) support the presentation.
This lecture will take place on Sunday June 4th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
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) safe house, or “Station” in UGRR code terms. It is today a designated “Network to Freedom” site of the U.S. National Park Service.
Dan Wykes presents a detailed overview in the guise of an UGRR “conductor.” Visual slides and a display of period artifact reproductions (including firearms asappropriate to the age group and setting of the presentation) support the presentation.
This lecture will take place on Sunday June 4th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
"H.H. Holmes: Beyond the Devil in the White City" -John Borowski
July 9 2:00pm
Join award-winning filmmaker and author John Borowski as he delivers an interactive lecture and Q&A on America's first serial killer: H.H. Holmes.
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 7th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 7th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
"So, You Think You're a Rockford Historian?" -Amanda Becker
August 13 2:00pm
Join local historian Amanda Becker in this interactive game-show styled lecture. Becker will give prompts to the audience then discuss those historic
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 7th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 7th in the lower level of the Tinker Barn from 2-4pm.
The cost for this lecture is $10 for non-members and $5 for Tinker members.
*Space is limited, so reserve today!
