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Robert Hall Tinker moved from New York to Illinois in 1856 when he met his future wife, Mary Dorr Manny, who hailed from a prominent family. In 1862, Mr. Tinker visited Switzerland where fell head-over-heels in love with the architecture, and, in 1865, he built his very own Swiss cottage here in Illinois. And eventually, a Swiss-style barn was added to the property in order to shelter chickens, horses, and cows.

Sitting on top of a bluff overlooking Kent Creek, Tinker Swiss cottage has over 27 acres of trees, pathways, and gardens to explore.
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Mr. Tinker had constructed a suspension bridge used to cross Kent Creek. At the end of the bridge, stunning gardens, referred to as the Railroad Gardens, were added for the enjoyment of train passengers as they waited for a train.
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens/Facebook
The gorgeous Victorian Rose Garden had been restored in 1998 to look the way it did from 1890-1910. Today, there are over 25 rose varieties present in the garden.
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The cottage was opened as a museum in 1943. Today, tours are given Tuesday through Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and may be booked online. Paranormal tours are also given throughout the year as Tinker Swiss Cottage is said to be haunted.
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On a tour, you will be able to explore the Victorian-era cottage with design elements created by Mr. Tinker himself. Some notable architectural details include rounded corners in several rooms and the high, decorative ceilings like the one pictured here.
Randy R/TripAdvisor
You will see furniture, art, clothes, and items that had belonged to the Tinker family. The library is perhaps the most impressive room in the house with the spiral staircase Mr. Tinker made himself out of one piece of wood.
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Iris beds are found along the pathway from the parkway to the visitors center. These were not original to the house but added in 2010 to honor Mr. Tinker's second wife, Jessie, who won many gardening awards for her irises.
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens/Facebook

Tinker Swiss Cottage is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s a fascinating place to visit. Take a tour to learn the history of this historic Rockford home and marvel at the gorgeous gardens surrounding it.

To learn more and to book a tour, visit the website or Facebook page.

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