TOURING MIDWAY

Welcome to Midway Village Museum

Visitors Explore Life During
The Victorian Era In An
Immersive Experience

Blacksmith ShopExplore life as it was during the early 1900s at Midway Village Museum. Victorian Village guided tour hours are now expanded to Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting June 3. The tours are one-hour and include a history interpreter telling stories of the past. Visitors learn about life during 1890 – 1910 as they walk through a 13-acre village representing life in a rural Northern Illinois town representative of Rockford, Illinois. On days when guided tours are not available, visitors may take a self-guided tour of the Victorian Village. The Main Museum Center exhibits are part of the admission and include many interesting gallery exhibitions related to industry and the history of the Rockford region and Northern Illinois.

Tours begin on the hour starting at 11 am. The last tour begins at 3 pm. Visitors check-in at the Main Museum Center upon arriving to the museum. The tour starts near Gate B as visitors are greeted by the costumed docent prior to the beginning of the tour.

Village Tours

Mondays & Tuesdays:

Midway Village Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Wednesdays:

Self-Guided Tours of the Victorian Village and Viewing the Main Museum Center Exhibits:

Visitors may enjoy the Victorian Village as a self-guided tour while the weather permits on Wednesdays. A handout is provided to visitors detailing short histories of the buildings. The Main Museum Center is also a self-guided experience. The buildings in the Victorian Village are not open for inside viewing during the self-guided tour days. The Village will be closed on Friday, September 17 for the setup of the museum’s World War II Days military re-enactment.

Make Reservations

Thursdays:

A Free/Donation Day Self-Guided Tours of the Victorian Village and Viewing the Main Museum Center Exhibits:

Visitors may visit on our free/donation day and enjoy the Victorian Village and Main Museum Center as self-guided experiences. A handout is provided to visitors detailing short histories of the buildings. The Main Museum Center is also a self-guided experience. The buildings in the Victorian Village are not open for inside viewing during the self-guided tour days.

Fridays:

Self-Guided Tours of the Victorian Village and Viewing the Main Museum Center Exhibits:

Visitors may visit enjoy the Victorian Village as a self-guided tour while the weather permits on Wednesdays. A handout is provided to visitors detailing short histories of the buildings. The Main Museum Center is also a self-guided experience. The buildings in the Victorian Village are not open for inside viewing during the self-guided tour days. The Village will be closed on Friday, September 17 for the setup of the museum’s World War II Days military re-enactment.

Make Reservations

Saturdays and Sundays:

Guided Tours Through October 31 of the Victorian Village:

You may visit the museum and experience a guided tour of the Victorian Village lead by a history interpreter. Visitor also may view the exhibits inside the Main Museum Center as a self-guided experience.

Make Reservations

This tour schedule is extended and will run through October 31. There are no Victorian Village tours on September 18, September 19 and October 23 due to museum special events. You may attend as a visitor by registering for those special events entitled World War II Days on September 18 and September 19 and All Hallows’ Eve on October 23.

Your visit to Midway Village Museum will include viewing the Main Museum Center exhibits. Inside the Main Museum Center visitors engage and explore history through interactive exhibits in the more than 20,000 square feet of gallery spaces. Nestled among each permanent gallery are continually changing temporary displays. There are always new and exciting things for visitors to see in our galleries.

Main Museum Center - Many Faces Exhibit

Inside The Main Museum Center

The Main Museum Center opens at 10 am Wednesday through Sundays.

Many Faces, One Community: This exhibit features stories of Rockford’s immigrants from 1834 to the present. Arrive through the train depot, stroll along 7th and South Main Streets, visit an immigrant home, and apply for a job at the Swedish furniture factory.

Queen City of the Prairies: Only 20 years after its founding Rockford became an important regional center of government, industry, and commerce. Learn more about life in 1840s Rockford.

The Girls of Summer: Meet the Rockford Peaches and learn about these ladies who played hardball in the 1940s-50s.

The Missing Link: Socks, Monkeys and Rockford’s Industrial Past: Monkey around with red heel socks and view the Nelson knitting machines. Find the sock monkey that helped win Rockford the title of “Home of the Sock Monkey.”

Flight Gallery: Learn about local aviators like Bessica Raiche, and see Col. Bert Hassell’s 1928 SMI Stinson-Detroiter Airplane.

Industrial Gallery: Rockford’s industrial geniuses created innovative products that impacted the local and worldwide economy.

Adjacent to the Museum Center be sure to see:

Old Doll’s House Museum: Outside the Museum Center, the Old Doll’s House Museum has 30 miniature homes representing different countries.

Woodward Millhouse: Tour an 1860s recreated mill with a functioning waterwheel located on Lake Severin. By appointment only.

Midway Village Museum Member may visit the Victorian Village or Main Museum Center for free as a part of their membership. To learn more about the membership program go to our Membership page.

Midway Village Museum is located on Rockford’s east side just 2 miles from the I-90 State Street exit. Parking is free. There are picnic areas on the campus, rest rooms are available and a Museum Gift Store to purchase a keepsake souvenir or gifts.

Questions? Please call 815-397-9112.