Real. Original. Rockford. Illinois, USA
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Rockford

Hot Events!

Blues Around the Clock - Blues Festival at Clock Tower Resort
August 07, 2010 - August 07, 2010
Times: Sat: 11am-11pm, Rain or shine. In case of bad weather, will move inside the Clock Tower Resort.
Twelve hours of live Blues! Performers include: Alex Wilson Band, Perryweber and the DeVilles, Sequoia and the Virgins, Purgatory Hill, The Jimmys, "Barstool Bob" Levis Blues Band, Velveetatones, Tony Menzer, Craig Panosh and "Lost Jim" Ohlschmidt, and W.C. Clark. Mark Thompson, ...
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Special Offers

Get away for the week or weekend! Check out our Stay and Play Packages and Special Offers for great deals.
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Current Itinerary

Museums and History

What does a dinosaur named Jane, a children's discovery museum, a turn-of-the-century village and museum center, and a rare example of Victorian "exotic" architecture have in common?

Rockford, of course. Our fine list of museums and Rockford attractions will capture the attention of any history buff. From Rockford's newest - and oldest - dinosaur (named Jane) at Burpee Museum of Natural History to the more than 250 hands-on children's exhibits at the Discovery Center Museum, you can truly spend your day in Rockford's downtown River District learning, listening, dissecting and discovering.

 

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Burpee Museum of Natural History Burpee Museum of Natural History
(815) 965-3433
737 N. Main St.
Riverfront Museum Park
Rockford, IL 61103

The award-winning exhibit, Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, explores the history of the young T. rex skeleton found by Burpee researchers in the badlands of Montana, called one of the ten most important din... MORE INFO

Bushnell Wheeler House Bushnell Wheeler House
(815) 389-1514
542 Wheeler Ave.
South Beloit, IL 61080

Completed in 1856 for Reverend Alexander Montgomery, the agent for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, this Italianate Villa has been restored to its former glory. Local area his... MORE INFO

Camp Grant Museum Camp Grant Museum
(815) 395-0678
1004 Samuelson Rd.
Rockford, IL 61109

Memorabilia of Rockford's Camp Grant, U.S. Army induction and training camp during World Wars I and II. The museum, an original building of Camp Grant, houses the Command Post restaurant and contains ... MORE INFO

Discovery Center Museum Discovery Center Museum
(815) 963-6769
711 N. Main St.
Riverfront Museum Park
Rockford, IL 61103

Experience a world of hands-on investigation and fun-filled exploration at this children's museum with more than 250 hands-on art and science exhibits, planetarium, TV studio, robotics lab, special ev... MORE INFO

Erlander Home Museum Erlander Home Museum
(815) 963-5559
404 S. Third St.
Rockford, IL 61104

The cultural centerpiece of Rockford's Swedish-ancestry community, Erlander Home Museum is located in Rockford's first brick home, built by John and IngaStina Erlander family in 1871. Restored to its ... MORE INFO

Ethnic Heritage Museum Ethnic Heritage Museum
(815) 962-7402
1129 S. Main St. (IL 2)
Rockford, IL 61102

Six nationalities that helped shape the cultural region are represented in this home museum, built in 1850. Located in the heart of the old water power district, the house features a room for each eth... MORE INFO

Historic Auto Attractions Historic Auto Attractions
(815) 389-7917
13825 Metric Dr.
Roscoe, IL 61073

More than just a display of historic automobiles, it's a journey through time! Over 75 historic autos displayed in 36,000 sq. ft., including the world's largest collection of presidential and world le... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - 3rd Union College
Boundaries: College Ave., S. 2nd Street, Morgan and the Rock River
Rockford, IL 61101

Founded in 1847, Rockford Female Seminary, today's Rockford College, brought growth and prosperity to the area surrounding its campus. Prominent citizens built stylish homes across from the campus. Th... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - Brown's Hills-Knightsville
Boundaries: N. 2nd, Rural, Guilford, Parkview and Spring Creek
Rockford, IL 61107

The historic district of Knightsville is a unique community built for the sole purpose of providing housing for a single industry, the Skandia Furniture Company, built in 1889. The isolated and self-s... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - Churchill Grove
Boundaries: North Main St., Whitman St., Auburn St. and the Rock River
Rockford, IL 61103

The origin of this northside neighborhood dates back to 1829 when, through the Treaty of Prairie du Chien, the land was given to Catherine Myott, daughter of a Winnebago Indian and a French soldier. T... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - Coronado Haskell
Boundaries: N. Main, Whitman, Rockton Ave., and Jefferson
Rockford, IL 61101

James Polk was president in 1843 when George Haskell filed his claim for 145 acres along the western banks of the Rock River. He built his home and sold lots to Seth Whitman and John Coleman who in 18... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - Garfield Avenue
Garfield & Rockton Avenues
Rockford, IL 61103

Thomas and Electa Garrison bought land beyond the city limits in 1853. In 1882 this farmland was subdivided into five parcels to settle the Garrison estate. The first home was built in 1911 and by the... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - Haight Village
Boundaries: 1st Ave., College, S. 2nd St. and the river
Rockford, IL 61104

Haight Village, Rockford's first local historic district and the only Rockford neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places, formed the southeast corner of newly incorporated Rockford in 1... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - Indian Terrace
Indian Terrace, north of Beattie Park, east of N. Main St.
Rockford, IL 61103

At the turn of the century, neighbor-cousins subdivided their riverfront backyards and created the Indian Terrace neighborhood, naming the street after one of their mansions. This charming neighborhoo... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Neighborhood - North End Square
Boundaries: N. Main, Auburn, Fulton and Ridge Streets
Rockford, IL 61103

This neighborhood gives meaning to "A man's home is his castle." Starting in the early 1890's the area was settled by working-class citizens. Today's residences reflect decades of doting by homeowners... MORE INFO

No Image Available Historic Walk-Abouts - River District
(800) 724-8431
River District
Rockford, IL 61103

These popular, free two-hour tours explore the architecture and history of a different downtown neighborhood each month from May through September. Hear the stories shared by the guides, guests and pr... MORE INFO

Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza
N. Perryville Rd.
0.25 mi. south of E. Riverside Blvd.
0.5 mi. west of I-90/39
Loves Park, IL 61111

Dedicated to peace, tranquility and celebrating diversity and heritage this 2.5-acre park near I-90/39 and Riverside Blvd. showcases 40 flags, 30 languages, 10 prophets of peace, two hemispheres, one ... MORE INFO

Midway Village Museum Midway Village Museum
(815) 397-9112
6799 Guilford Rd.
Rockford, IL 61107

The museum campus consists of a Victorian village with 26 historical buildings filled with artifacts of the era as well as several beautiful 19th century gardens that depict life in northern... MORE INFO

No Image Available Paulson's Agriculture Museum of Argyle
(815) 885-3846
6910 Belvidere Rd.
Loves Park, IL 61111

"Home of the largest and best collection of farm equipment and antiquites of yesteryear." Over 700 cast iron implement seats, 50 antique tractors, windmills, windmill weights and antique washing machi... MORE INFO

Pecatonica Heritage Museum & Welcome Center Pecatonica Heritage Museum & Welcome Center
(888) 851-1559
314 Main Street
Pecatonica, IL 61063

The Pecatonica Heritage Museum was formed with the dual purpose of preserving the history of Pecatonica’s historic grain elevator and adaptively using it for the benefit of the surrounding community. ... MORE INFO

Riverfront Museum Park Riverfront Museum Park
(815) 972-2800
711 N. Main St.
Rockford, IL 61103

Arts and humanities complex housing Discovery Center Museum, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford Dance Company office and studies, Northern Illinois Public Radio offices and Rockford Symphony Orchestra offi... MORE INFO

Rockford Art Museum Rockford Art Museum
(815) 968-2787
711 N. Main St.
Riverfront Museum Park
Rockford, IL 61103

Illinois' largest art museum outside of Chicago with over 1,500 works of art; noted for its permanent collection of 19th and 20th Century American art, plus dynamic and changing exhibits featuring reg... MORE INFO

No Image Available Rockton Township Historical Society Museum
(815) 629-2210

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History of early settlers, Wagon Wheel resort memorabilia and other items of Rockton and northern Illnois history. The museum is a grout house built circa 1856. The modern Carriage House features exhi... MORE INFO

No Image Available St. Mary's Grotto
(815) 965-5971
518 Elm St.
St. Mary's Church
Rockford, IL 61102

People from everywhere come to St. Mary's Grotto to meditate and pray in its dimly lighted, cool, rock-like setting. The Grotto is modeled after the Shrine in Lourdes, France where the Virgin Mary app... MORE INFO

Stephen Mack Home & Whitman Trading Post Stephen Mack Home & Whitman Trading Post
(815) 624-4200
2221 Freeport Rd.
Macktown Forest Preserve
Rockton, IL 61072

Built in 1834 on the Pecatonica River by fur trader Stephen Mack, one of the area's first settlers. See the walnut cradle Mack made for his children, plus Native American artifacts, donated by Mack's ... MORE INFO

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Fun Facts

fun sockmonkey1nelson Did you know Rockford is the home of the sock monkey? Learn more interesting facts about our region.
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