Rockford Attractions

Anderson Japanese Gardens, a 10 acre Japanese garden complete with cascading waterfalls, ponds, streams rock formations, winding lanes, a tea house and guest house built in the authentic sukiya style.

The Burpee Museum of Natural History opened in 1942 and is housed in the Solem Wing, the Manny Mansion, and the Barnes Mansion. The natural history collection includes paleontology, geology, biology, and Native American artifacts. The Children's Gallery has games, live animals, books, and activities.

The Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford began in 1927 as a movie palace and vaudeville hall. Today, the center hosts live concerts, national touring shows and performances by the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

The atmospheric style theatre was restored between 1999 and 2001. The interior still features Spanish castles, Italian villas, oriental dragons, and starlit skies along with a state-of-the-art facility.

Graham Ginestra House was built in 1857 and features historical details that include parquet floors, ionic columns, ceiling murals and a free standing stairway complete with an original stained glass window. Victorian furnishings are also found throughout the house.

Klehm Arboretum is a 150 acre natural environment featuring a variety of trees and plants. The Klehm Arboretum has a children's garden and other specialty gardens such as a fountain garden, prehistoric garden and butterfly garden. The grounds are also enjoyed by bird watchers.

The Midway Village and Museum Center features four exhibition galleries - the Industrial Gallery housing thirty exhibits highlighting Rockford's major industries; the Aviation Gallery, the permanent home of the 1928 Greater Rockford Aircraft; the Swedish Singers, Rockford Peaches and the Exhibition Gallery, interprets the early history of the Northern Illinois area.

Sinnissippi Gardens, Greenhouse and Lagoon feature an aviary, floral clock, greenhouse and recreation path. In the winter, the lagoon is available for public skating when it freezes over.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum is a twenty-room Swiss cottage was built in 1865. Thousands of items, collected by Robert Tinker on his world travels, are on display.