The Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, a Rockford Park District Facility listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally built by Robert Tinker in 1865.  In 1870, Mr. Tinker built a swinging pedestrian suspension bridge across Kent Creek.  Twenty years later, every single bridge in Rockford was swept away in the flood of 1890.  Mr. Tinker rebuilt his swinging bridge in 1891, and it stood as a Rockford Landmark until 1976 when it deteriorated to the point where it had to be removed.

 In 2001 Willett,  Hofmann & Associates, Inc. was hired to design a new bridge replicating Mr. Tinker’s 1891 bridge.  Based on the study of artifacts and historic photographs, engineers at Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc. successfully designed a new bridge meeting current design requirements that aesthetically replicated Mr. Tinker’s historic bridge. 

The engineers of Willett, Hofmann & Associates first studied the remaining pier and cables along with historic photos to determine the dimensions of the original bridge.  Then the design was slightly tweaked to allow for modern safety issues.  For example, although approximately 25 feet above the creek, the original bridge did not have a safety rail.  The new bridge uses small diameter tension cables as a railing - sturdy enough to provide safety but thin enough to be inconspicuous from a distance, maintaining the look of the original bridge.

The completed bridge is a two span (103’-8” : 64’-7”) suspension bridge on reinforced concrete abutments and pier with stone veneer to replicate the original. 

Construction of the bridge was completed in June of 2005.  In 2006 WHA was proud to have received an Honor Award at the American Council of Engineering Companies’ 35th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards, one of six Honor Awards selected from 37 Illinois project candidates.

Last Updated:  10/15/2008
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