Current Itinerary

Arts & Culture: Day 2

And The Show Goes On!

ARTS & CULTURE TOUR
Day Two, morning

Rockford’s history is rich in ethnic diversity. The Ethnic Heritage Museum is located in the heart of the old waterpower district. Each room in the museum highlights a distinct ethnic group, including: African American; Irish; Italian; Lithuanian; Polish; and Hispanic. The neighborhood is now predominantly Hispanic and is dotted with many Mexican restaurants, shops and bakeries.

Scandinavian immigrants settled in Rockford between 1852 and the early 1900’s. Immigrants arriving in Chicago from New York encountered a cholera epidemic, and were encouraged to travel west to the end of the line…Rockford. The Erlander Home Museum is a 12-room Italianate style home and was the first brick home constructed for a Swedish family in Rockford. In 1865, after traveling through Europe, Robert Tinker was inspired to build his unique Tinker Swiss Cottage overlooking Kent Creek. A rare example of Victorian exotic architecture, the cottage features parquet floors, ornate woodwork, murals, sculptures, and spiral staircase with the family's original furnishings and belongings in place.

Day Two, evening
Downtown’s Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center is the oldest, continuous community music organization in the United States presenting over 25 concerts each year. If you’re looking for blues or jazz…then head to Big Cities Lounge on State Street in downtown. You’ll find some of the area’s hottest blues and jazz bands performing on Wednesday through Saturday nights. If live concerts is more your thing, check out the schedules at the BMO Harris Bank Center, Rockford's 10,000 seat downtown arena, and Davis Park, a seven-acre outdoor venue, hosts to a variety of events and entertainment ranging from rock concerts to rodeos and live outdoor concerts to festivals.

Lodging
After exploring Rockford’s diverse neighborhoods, you’ll want to rest your head on a soft pillow and put your feet up. Rockford’s hotels include everything from full-service resorts to budget lodging. For a complete listing visit our accommodations page.

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