Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
Encyclopedia
The Tinker Swiss Cottage is a historic place, museum, and park in Rockford, Illinois
, USA. It was built as a personal residence by Robert Hall Tinker in the 1860s. It is now a popular destination for school trips and wedding receptions.
Robert Hall Tinker was born in Honolulu to missionary Reuben Tinker (1799–1854) and his wife Mary Throop Wood (1809–1895) in 1836.
Tinker moved to Rockford in 1856, where he was employed as an accountant by Mary Dorr Manny, the wealthy widow of John H. Manny of the Manny reaper works. Tinker traveled Europe in 1862 and was greatly impressed by the estates and gardens he had seen there. On his return to Rockford, Tinker built himself a 20-room Swiss-style cottage on a limestone bluff overlooking the Kent creek and the home of Mary Manny. In 1870 Robert and Mary were married, becoming Rockford's most influential couple. Tinker was mayor of Rockford in 1875 and a founding member of the Rockford Park District
.
Upon the death of the Tinkers, the cottage was left to the Rockford Park District
. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) on December 27, 1972.
Most striking is the interior for its dimensions. The magnificent and heavy architecture oppresses a visitor of average size. The ceilings are low, the rooms small and the answer can be found in the owners' clothes, displayed in the bedrooms. Mrs Tinker wore a size 10-girl by today's sizing. her husband was not much taller.
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, USA. It was built as a personal residence by Robert Hall Tinker in the 1860s. It is now a popular destination for school trips and wedding receptions.
Robert Hall Tinker was born in Honolulu to missionary Reuben Tinker (1799–1854) and his wife Mary Throop Wood (1809–1895) in 1836.
Tinker moved to Rockford in 1856, where he was employed as an accountant by Mary Dorr Manny, the wealthy widow of John H. Manny of the Manny reaper works. Tinker traveled Europe in 1862 and was greatly impressed by the estates and gardens he had seen there. On his return to Rockford, Tinker built himself a 20-room Swiss-style cottage on a limestone bluff overlooking the Kent creek and the home of Mary Manny. In 1870 Robert and Mary were married, becoming Rockford's most influential couple. Tinker was mayor of Rockford in 1875 and a founding member of the Rockford Park District
Rockford Park District
The Rockford Park District was formed in 1909 and is governed by an elected five-memberboard of commissioners who serve six-year terms without compensation. It is the second largest municipal park system in Illinois, serving the communities of Rockford, Illinois, including Loves Park, Cherry...
.
Upon the death of the Tinkers, the cottage was left to the Rockford Park District
Rockford Park District
The Rockford Park District was formed in 1909 and is governed by an elected five-memberboard of commissioners who serve six-year terms without compensation. It is the second largest municipal park system in Illinois, serving the communities of Rockford, Illinois, including Loves Park, Cherry...
. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) on December 27, 1972.
Most striking is the interior for its dimensions. The magnificent and heavy architecture oppresses a visitor of average size. The ceilings are low, the rooms small and the answer can be found in the owners' clothes, displayed in the bedrooms. Mrs Tinker wore a size 10-girl by today's sizing. her husband was not much taller.