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 1pm & 3pm tours are SOLD OUT for Sunday, September 20th. Please join us this day for our last Summer Lecture at 2pm!

There will be NO 1pm & 3pm Tours on October 4th. Please join us for our 9th Annual Trunk-or-Treat Festival from 1-3pm. 
There will be NO 1pm & 3pm Tours on October 9th & 10th. Please join us for our Paranormal Convention Weekend! 
The museum WILL BE CLOSED for a private event on October 13th.
The museum WILL BE CLOSED for a private event on October 31st.

The museum WILL BE CLOSED on November 3rd & 10th. 
The Museum WILL BE CLOSED for the Thanksgiving weekend, November 26-29. 

The museum WILL BE CLOSED from December 22nd - January 4th for the holiday season.

#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:

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

"Traveling Tinker Team"
Summer Lecture
September 20th  2-4pm

Join the staff of Tinker Swiss Cottage for our last lecture of the season as we review the various places the Tinker family traveled to and our modern interactions with those locations. 

From Robert's European travels to the extended family's life in New Orleans to the Hawaiian childhood and honeymoon, our staff will cover both the historical and modern significance these locations have with the museum today. 

Temporary Exhibit: 
A House In Mourning
A Victorian Funeral Exhibit
September 25 -
November 1

From September 25 - November 1, all General History Tours will experience "A House in Mourning". During this temporary exhibit, the Cottage will be staged as a Victorian funeral. Mourning customs, the spiritualist movement, and macabre Victorian practices will all be discussed while on tour. 

*Please note, General History Tours do not discuss the paranormal aspect of our museum. For more information about the paranormal happenings, please join us at one of our special events! 

October Storytimes at
Tinker Cottage!

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage for FREE Storytime sessions every Wednesday at 9am! 

These programs are FREE to our community through the Rockford Public Library. Advance registration not required. 

Trunk-or-Treat Festival
October 4th  1-3pm

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum for our 9th annual Trunk-or-Treat Festival on Sunday, October 4th from 1-3pm! 

Calling all monsters, princesses, superheroes, and cartoon characters! Enjoy trunk-or-treating through the historic Tinker Gardens with free first-floor tours of the Cottage. There will be DJ Greg spinning spooktacular tunes, a craft table, face painting, vendors, and food trucks!

A HUGE THANK YOU to our event sponsors: 
 - MembersAlliance Credit Union
 - Rockford Heating & Air Conditioning
 - Nicholson Hardware
 - City of Rockford
 - GoRockford (Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau) 
 - Big Day DJ Service
 - Blain's Farm & Fleet

Tipsy History: Spirits with the Spirits
October 9th  6-8pm

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum staff at the historic Greenwood Cemetery on Friday, October 9th 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 Greenwood Cemetery Chapel will be included. 

Tickets: $50 per person
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Each Conference attendee who attends this event will also receive a special event souvenir shot glass with their ticket purchase.

Photo IDs are required at the door.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our Sponsors:
🍹 Hoffman House for the drink service
🍕 The Olympic Tavern for the snack table

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

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum for a 3-day spooky extravaganza celebrating haunted history, paranormal research, and supernatural storytelling. 

The 2026 Illinois Paranormal Conference takes place on Saturday, October 10th from 10am-5pm. Enjoy a full day of fascinating speakers, vendors, and paranormal exploration. 

Extend the adventure with optional events on Friday night, Saturday evening, and Sunday morning. Whether you're a seasoned investigator or simply intrigued by the unexplained, this immersive weekend offers the perfect chance to connect with fellow enthusiasts and explore the strange and supernatural together. 

Come for the conference... stay for the mysteries that linger after dark.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our Sponsors:
👻 Haunted Rockford
🖤 Stateline Cremations

Post-Conference Paranormal Investigation
October 10th  7-10pm

Did you ever want to see what a real paranormal investigation is all about? This is your chance to find out!

Join special guest investigators, Chris Fleming, DeEtte Renae, & Larry Eissler III for a one-night special investigation of the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum! 

These tickets are reserved for Conference attendees.

History & Haunts Downtown Walking Tour
Sunday, October 11th  10-11:30am

Step into the shadows of downtown Rockford and discover the stories that linger just beneath the surface on Sunday, October 11th from 10-11:30am. 

This guided walking tour explores the city through the eyes of the influential Tinker family, weaving together local history, eerie legends, and tales of unexplained happenings along the streets they once knew. 

Along the way, guests will make a special stop at Inzombia Coffee, adding a delicious and curious touch to a morning filled with history, mystery, and a few lingering spirits. Whether you love local history or spine-tingling folklore, this tour offers a fascinating look at downtown Rockford. 

Tours start and end at the Rockford Watch Factory. This is an approximately 1.5-mile walking tour with some uneven ground. Please wear appropriate walking shoes to this event. This event takes place rain or shine.

Tales That Go Bump in the Night Paranormal Tour w/ Haunted Rockford
October 16th  7-10pm

Join the Haunted Rockford Crew for a special October Paranormal Tour of Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum! 

Local authors Kathi Kresol & Terri Reid will share haunting tales of ghostly happenings, then guests will take a tour through the Cottage to learn more about the sightings and experiences of the Tinker family. 

Paranormal Tour w/ The Ghoul Gallery
October 23rd  7-10pm

Join special guests The Ghoul Gallery for haunting tales of their experiences investigating some of the most haunted locations in America. 

After the presentation, enjoy a tour through the Cottage with the chance to have your own paranormal encounter. 

Rockford's Most Haunted Investigation
October 24th  6-11pm

Did you ever want to see what a real paranormal investigation is all about? This is your chance to find out! 

This exciting event will let you be the paranormal investigator. Join Haunted Rockford for a one-night investigation through THREE of the most haunted locations in the Rockford area! 

Guests will begin at Veterans Memorial Hall, travel to Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and the Heritage Museum Park, before ending the night back at Veterans Memorial Hall. 

You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own equipment (cameras, audio recorders, emf).

Paranormal Investigation w/ Midwest Ghost Investigators
October 30th  7-10pm

Join the Midwest Ghost Investigators the night before Halloween at Rockford's most haunted location! 

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, audio recorders, emf).

Temporary Exhibit: 
A Cottage Christmas
November 4 -
February 1

From November 4 - February 4, all General History Tours will experience "A Cottage Christmas." During this temporary exhibit, the Cottage will be staged for a Victorian Christmas. Original cards and ornaments from the Tinker family will be on display. Guests will learn more about the Victorian holiday traditions that the Tinkers enjoyed, as well as those traditions that have continued on into our modern time! 

November Storytimes at
Tinker Cottage!

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage for FREE Storytime sessions every Wednesday at 9am! 

These programs are FREE to our community through the Rockford Public Library. Advance registration not required. ​

December Storytimes at
Tinker Cottage!

Join Tinker Swiss Cottage for FREE Storytime sessions every Wednesday at 9am! 

These programs are FREE to our community through the Rockford Public Library. Advance registration not required. ​

"Murder Under the Mistletoe" 
A Victorian Murder Mystery Dinner
December 4th  6-9:30pm

It's the late-1800s, and you've been invited to a lavish Victorian Christmas gathering at the Tinker Cottage!

The halls are decked, the fire is crackling, and distinguished guests have gathered to celebrate the holiday season with good cheer, fine company, and perhaps a little festive gossip. But beneath the merriment, secrets are being whispered - and not everyone has come with good tidings.

As the evening unfolds, a shocking discovery turns this festive celebration into a scene of murder. With a killer hiding among the guests, everyone becomes a suspect... and before the night is over, someone may find themselves under the mistletoe for the very last time! ​

Ghosts of Christmas Past
December 5th  7-10pm

Join Haunted Rockford for tales of holiday hauntings at the Tinker Swiss Cottage! 

Tales of holiday specters will be shared by Kathi Kresol. Guests will then join the museum staff through a tour of the Cottage decorated for the holidays as they learn more of the macabre side of our local history. 

Shadows Over Tinker
A D&D Adventure
December 13th  6-9pm

The halls are decked. The guests have gathered. The holiday festivities are underway at Tinker Swiss Cottage... What could possibly go wrong? 

When an unexpected group of visitors crashes the Christmas celebration and takes control of the Cottage, a seemingly festive evening quickly becomes a fight for survival. Sneak through the halls, uncover a hidden plot, rescue the party guests, and try to save Christmas before the clock strikes midnight. 

A Dungeons and Dragons one shot adventure taking place on Sunday, December 13th at 6pm! 
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** 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, December 13, 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! ​
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!