04/15/2026
Perched on a limestone bluff sits one of Rockford’s most iconic and haunted landmarks…Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens.
But right now, that history is at risk.
The very bluff that has held this cottage for over a century is beginning to shift slowly pulling the exterior stairway away from the home itself. What once stood as a timeless connection between past and present is now being threatened by the ground beneath it.
This isn’t just about preserving a building. It’s about protecting the stories, the energy, and the history that lives within those walls.
Every donation made will go directly toward critical structural repairs.
Let’s come together to save a piece of Rockford’s haunted history👻
đź–¤ Donate. Share. Preserve the pastđź–¤
Link to donate 👇🏻
http://www.tinkercottage.com/donate1.html
We are still buzzing from our Tinker Visions Breakfast! It was incredible to see so many familiar faces, including Mayor Tom McNamara, and Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina, standing with us to support the future of the Cottage.
But why are we fundraising with such urgency? The answer is right beneath our feet.
Tinker Swiss Cottage sits atop a stunning limestone bluff, but time and the elements have taken their toll. The bluff is deteriorating, and as it shifts, it is pulling the historic exterior staircase away from the Cottage itself.
This isn't just an "aesthetic" fix, it’s a critical structural necessity. To save this piece of our city, we need to raise $600,000.
If our recent posts about Rockford’s disappearing history moved you, please consider helping us secure this foundation. We want to ensure the Cottage stays exactly where it belongs for the next 160 years.
Please consider donating: http://www.tinkercottage.com/donate1.html