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.
**Please note: There are no physical tickets. Once you purchase your seat, you will be placed onto a reservation form and will need to check in at the Barn upon arrival.
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.
**Please note: There are no physical tickets. Once you purchase your seat, you will be placed onto a reservation form and will need to check in at the Barn upon arrival.
"Harlem Park and 1890s Mass Entertainment" -Amanda Becker
May 5th 2:00pm
Join us on Sunday May 5th from 2-4pm for our first Summer Lecture of 2024!
Local historian and educator, Amanda Becker, will share this brand new presentation on early Rockford entertainment.
In the 1890s, the modern-day neighborhoods of Rock Terrace, Edgewater, and the North End were booming. Entrepreneurs collaborated to promote the burgeoning trolley line and real estate in the area by creating a mass entertainment zone of baseball, golf, horseracing, and family fun. Harlem Park was a place where Rockford and the surrounding area's families went for a variety of entertainments. The Driving Park was a place for horse-racing excitement. Riverside Park was built for minor-league baseball games. Rockford Country Club catered to the leisure class and alone among these attractions is still in operation.
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 5th 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!
Local historian and educator, Amanda Becker, will share this brand new presentation on early Rockford entertainment.
In the 1890s, the modern-day neighborhoods of Rock Terrace, Edgewater, and the North End were booming. Entrepreneurs collaborated to promote the burgeoning trolley line and real estate in the area by creating a mass entertainment zone of baseball, golf, horseracing, and family fun. Harlem Park was a place where Rockford and the surrounding area's families went for a variety of entertainments. The Driving Park was a place for horse-racing excitement. Riverside Park was built for minor-league baseball games. Rockford Country Club catered to the leisure class and alone among these attractions is still in operation.
This lecture will take place on Sunday May 5th 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!
"Fred Machesney: Rockford Aviation Legend" -Mike Frederiksen
June 2nd 2:00pm
Join us as we welcome back local historian and published author, Mike Frederiksen, on Sunday, June 2nd!
The name Machesney is very familiar to those who live in the Northern Illinois region due to the Village of Machesney Park and the Machesney Park Mall. However, before there was a village and a mall, the name Machesney was synonymous with aviation. Fred Machesney founded the first official Airport in Rockford and operated it for 47 years. Machesney was an innovator, a businessman, and a catalyst for the aviation industry our region is now known for. Join us as we explore Machesney’s life from barnstormer in Kewanee to the closure and conversion of his airport into a mall. We will also talk about early Rockford aviation themes and the formation of the Chicago Rockford International Airport.
This lecture will take place on Sunday June 2nd 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 name Machesney is very familiar to those who live in the Northern Illinois region due to the Village of Machesney Park and the Machesney Park Mall. However, before there was a village and a mall, the name Machesney was synonymous with aviation. Fred Machesney founded the first official Airport in Rockford and operated it for 47 years. Machesney was an innovator, a businessman, and a catalyst for the aviation industry our region is now known for. Join us as we explore Machesney’s life from barnstormer in Kewanee to the closure and conversion of his airport into a mall. We will also talk about early Rockford aviation themes and the formation of the Chicago Rockford International Airport.
This lecture will take place on Sunday June 2nd 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!