What’s Up? August 2021

Our fall events are starting up in August, and we are so excited! So, what’s up this month?

Join Us for a Tour!

Join us for a tour Tuesdays through Sundays at 1pm and 3pm. We still highly recommend making a reservation for your tour as the capacity for these general history tours are capped at 15 guests. With the guidelines from the Winnebago County Health Department, we are still requiring all staff, volunteers, and visitors to wear face masks.

Donation Days are August 4, 11, 18, & 25!

To reserve your tour date and time, you can either call our office at 815-964-2424 or send an email to info@tinkercottage.com.

August 14: Paranormal Tour w/ Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee 7-10pm

Join us for scintillating tales from paranormal experts the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee! Listen to audio clips found in the Tinker Cottage, and enjoy a tour with the chance to have your own paranormal encounter. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own equipment (cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, emf). Each event begins in the Barn.

Tickets: $25 for Non-Members $20 for Members – purchased HERE!

August 15: Summer Lecture “Thank You Elias Cosper” presented by Mary Rose 2-4pm

Come celebrate 815 Day by learning about all the things Elias Cosper did for Rockford from 1854-1900: Jeweler, Banker, Civil War Captain, Assistant Provost Marshall and Paymaster; Sales Agent; and strong businessman. Cosper was known as the “Father of the Library”. Learn what piece of Cosper’s past is on display at Veterans Memorial Hall and what was his connection to Robert Tinker.

Tickets: $10 for Non-Members $5 for Members – purchased HERE!

August 31: New Exhibit Opens! “The Extended Family”

Tinker Swiss Cottage is excited to open our newest exhibit on August 31: The Extended Family!

Victorian households consisted of more than just the main nuclear family who lived in them. This exhibit will explore the lives of some of the lesser known family members who lived in the Cottage, as well as lives of some of their servants and pets.

This exhibit is included in our General History Tours available Tuesday through Sunday at 1pm & 3pm.

GET INVOLVED

Volunteering

Interested in giving tours? Want to share your gardening skills? We’d love to have you join our volunteer team! If you are interested in becoming a Docent (tour guide), we are currently accepting Docent volunteer positions.

Our garden volunteers are starting back to work in the gardens! We have multiple areas we need your help in. Our Victorian Rose Garden, Historic Iris Garden, and Railroad Gardens are all in need of some TLC. If you or anyone you know would be interested in joining our garden team, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We have specific garden mornings every Friday from 9am-2pm, but we are very flexible with your schedule if a better day works for you!

For more information or to sign up, please email our Executive Director at Samantha@tinkercottage.com

Join Our Membership

Have you renewed your Tinker membership for 2021? All 2020 memberships will be extended through 2021 due to the museum’s closure due to COVID-19 in 2020. Current 2021 memberships will be extended to May 30, 2022.  

Starting in 2022, Memberships will run from June 1-May 30. Family Memberships are $50/year and Individual Memberships are $25/year. Both membership tiers come with the following benefits: 

•  Free General Admission
•  Membership Recognition in the Annual Report
•  Discount on Special Event Tickets
•  Constant Contact updates and news from the museum
•  10% Museum Store Discount
•  Tinker Newsletter
•  Membership to the Time Traveler Program with free and discounted admission into over 300 museums
• across the country!

Be sure to renew your membership today by calling 815-964-2424 or visit our WEBSITE!

Thanks for checking in this month. We hope to see you soon!
Samantha