3 Best Landmarks in Rockford, IL

“The Discovery Center Museum spans 23,000 square feet and provides over 300 exciting interactive exhibits. The museum conducts engaging programs for curious children that provide endless opportunities to play, discover, and experience the magic of hands-on learning. Their exhibit galleries focus on the forms of electricity, the human body, space, simple machines, the science of sports, communication, agriculture, color and light, and math. All their shows relate to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). Visitors can explore their Rock River Discovery Park in the museum's backyard, a 15,000 square foot multi-level science park featuring a water play area, dinosaur dig pit, and a Secret Garden. They offer free admission for members and children aged one and younger.”

“Burpee Museum of Natural History aims to inspire all people to engage in a lifetime of learning and discovery about the natural world through preservation and interpretation. The museum was established by Harry and Della Burpee and opened to the public inside the historic Barnes Family Home, built in 1893. The Museum of Natural History is equipped with four floors of engaging exhibits, suitable for the whole family. They offer exciting field trips for schools and hands-on workshops, from making fossils to water quality testing and invertebrate analysis in their water lab on the Rock River. They offer homeschool programming where the museum becomes your laboratory. They provide free admission for toddlers (3 & under) and active military families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The museum has a main parking lot with accessible parking. Wheelchairs are available free of charge.”

“Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens was built as a personal residence by Robert Hall Tinker. The museum preserves and shares the legacy of the Tinker family and inspires visitors to connect with history. The place has over 27 acres of trees, vines, winding pathways, flowerbeds, and gardens. The house is now a popular destination for school groups, general tours, and rentals. Guided tours are approximately 60 to 90 minutes long and also offer a complete walking tour. Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). A wheelchair is available free of charge. The house offers free admission for Tinker members and children five years old and under.”