midway village & museum center

We went here from out of state to attend the annual "Sock Monkey" festival with grandchildren. It was a fantastic venue for us and kids, we all had such a great time and it was so much more than expected, lots to see and do. The staff in place were so very friendly and knowledgeable. We will be back again for one of their events in the future!

They have a WWII reenactment that is outstanding. You can listen to the era's music, see the clothing, visit camps, and watch the troops storm the town.

Gives one a good idea what Rockford was like in the beginning. Nice museum inside and outside. Great walking paths next to it. Beautiful setting to use as background in photo sessions.

Every year Midway Village & Museum Center hosts reenactors from all over the country in one of the largest WWII reenactments in the country. It is a wonderful way for children and adults to experience the feeling of actually being there and a living history demonstration beyond compare.

We went to Rockford because we heard about the war re-enactments they do one weekend a year. It was an amazing experience. We saw battles with US, German, and Russian artillery. And in the streets of the historic village there were scenarios acted out as if it were a village in France during the war. We will definitely be back next year.

The annual WWII reenactment is awesome! WWII armor in battle reenactments with pyrotechnics. Over 1000 reenactors!

PROS: free parking; large and involved events throughout the year. The most recent even was yesterday which was the WWII event. They were complete with tanks, jeeps, cars, re-enactors, battles, skirmishes that really brings the war to life. Everything was well organized and having the actors and equipment transformed this slice of early Midwest into versions of towns in Europe, America and other areas affected by the war. Everyone involved (from the actors to the vendors to the employees of Midway Village) were very accomodating and everyone in my family had a great time. This is a great asset of the city and should be patronized by everyone around. If you havent been here, you dont know what you are missing!CONS: parking can be tight on special events. There were 2 general parking lots and the regular cemented parking lot was reserved for handicapped patrons.

We travel from Oregon to visit this amazing reenactment and living history event. The Midway Village is a fantastic setting and the soldiers and civilians who participate in this event transport us back to the 1940's. It is magical living history ! Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who make this a well run and extremely organized event.

I know people who have lived in Rockford longer then I and they don't know there history. I urge folks to step out and explore. This museum is very interesting because it shares the Manufacturing history of Rockford. This is full blown American History. It's enlightening and educational but it's fun to. I loved the guided tour of the 're created Midway Village. Young and Seasoned will love this place. Perfect for groups too. It's a great couples place too because of the multiple activities and natural beauty of the grounds. If I were a dad I'd would take my kids and have a fun day. History can be fun.

We were given a tour which was so enjoyable. The guide gave good explanations and pointed out very interesting things. I just loved stepping back in time and remembering the past. Great experience for the money. I plan on bring lots of family and guests here as often as possible.

$7 for adults general admission, $5 for kids under 17.... you start off in the main building learning about Rockford's history... some of it is interesting, some of it is not - however I suppose it just depends on the individual and what interests you! They just opened a brand new exhibit about Rockford's historic famous faces/persons. Also in the museum are sections about the sock monkey, farmers, airplanes, factories, etc. Then you go outside and wander over to the Doll house museum - this was probably my favorite part. A whole house full of dollhouses that each have their own culture. There are Japanese ones, Indian ones, European, Mexican, Mouse themed ones... very cool. In the basement is a large farm replica.Then you go on down to the 'General Store' and meet up with a tour guide. Tours are every hour on the hour, but they're only open 10-4 most days. Our tour guide was quite knowledgeable but a bit hard to understand and kind of rambled his way through it. 3 of the houses we weren't able to go into due to re-modeling and storm damage type of stuff.We were glad to have gone so now we know what the Midway village is all about, but we won't likely go back.

Midway Village is a very interesting look back in time. The building are nice and it is amazing it is right in Rockford. I have been here several times. My favorite event is the All Hallows Eve event. My kids really like the atmosphere and it is pretty safe. My biggest complaint is the staff. It is very unorganized and the staff gets very upset when people don't do what the staff thinks they should. However there is little to no signage and it is easy to get off track. Again, I have been there enough to know the "rules" but watching their unkindness to young children and young families is difficult.

We thought a Saturday afternoon in the summer when no village events were scheduled would be a good time to take the grandkids to see the museum and the village. Not being tour type people and having young short-attentioned kids, we thought we would self-guide ourselves through. Upon entering the village, we were told that we could walk around, but if a building was open, we were not to go in (except if we take the tour) due to a couple of weddings going on and the buildings were rented (?).The Doll House was, however, open and we toured that. The doll houses from all over the world were interesting, but the building smelled like a cat litter box.Tip - be sure to bring a flashlight as the doll houses and many of the displays in the museum are too dark to see.The museum does the history very well. The city of Rockford's path from manufacturing mega-giant to sock monkey salesman was a bit sad for this native Rockfordian, but very well displayed with the inventions and the stories of the men who built these inventions into industries known throughout the world.How the men and women settled the area, the hardships, successes, and how it grew created an interesting story. The grounds and setting are beautiful and well worth the visit on their own. Walks can be taken without paying the admission charges. I may be a bit harsh here in my critique, and I suppose Midway Village, like the rest of Rockford, is suffering from the lack of capital that comes from declining economic activity.

I belong to Midway Village and try to take advantage of the excellent programs. Don't miss the displays.

This is not the site to see during the winter. Understandably, all the outdoor buildings were closed. On the inside, there was major construction taking place since it looks like there is a huge addition being built. However, what was available was enjoyable. If you have an infinity for the Rockford Peaches (I do) or farm machinery (I don't), it is still an enjoyable visit. The people were friendly and I believe this is a terrific site for families during the spring and summer.