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Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens, Rockford

4.2
#4 of 6 in Museums in Rockford
Specialty Museum · Hidden Gem · Museum
A historic house museum, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens contains the historic house museum, barn, and carriage house from the Tinker family. In addition, the property remains the home of the founding site of Rockford and contains a Pre-Columbian Native American conical mound. The museum collection contains over 10,000 objects with over 99 percent of the collection obtained from the original objects of the occupants of the Tinker Swiss Cottage. The Tinker family, the sole occupants of the Swiss Cottage, left their home to the Rockford Park District and their household belongings to trustees after seventy-five years of residence. Filled with original furnishings, artwork, diaries, clothing, and household items, the cottage remains a rich time capsule of life during the Victorian Era. The cottage is also one of only a handful of Swiss-style homes remaining in the United States. Take a look at our Rockford travel tool to schedule your visit to Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens and learn about what else to see and do during your holiday.
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Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
56 reviews
Google
4.4
TripAdvisor
  • By leslie t
    We went with the kids and we were the only folks there as it was snowing pretty hard the day we went. I enjoy history and old things so I found it quite enjoyable. I have teen boys and they were...  more »
  • By KayM506
    This Swiss-inspired house is not in the center of Rockford, but it is not a long drive. Robert Inker built this house beginning in 1862 after traveling extensively throughout Europe where he loved...  more »
  • By billandgeorgeanna
    Wow another gem in Rockford that has been saved. What a history. Great tour and history of the property, well worth the visit.  more »
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Google
  • By Lorraine Amanda Belisle
    The museum is way cool, but the tour quality definitely depends on the guide. They are awesome for volunteering so don't write this place off even if the first tour you go on is poorly paced.
  • By Bryan Krieter
    Went there twice in the last 10 years awesome very good
  • By Chris Donnelli
    You will learn something, I'll never forget it, Thank you for the great time, very very interesting.
  • By Diane Johnson
    More interesting than anticipated. Visit in February so missed the gardens which I would enjoy.
  • By Mona Vie
    This place is amazing! The craftsmanship, love and skill that was put into building it is incredible. Definitely a hidden gem in Rockford!! I will definitely be going back for another tour
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