Heritage Gardens Program

Heritage Gardens Program

Heritage Garden"One of the chief charms of Rockford is to be found in its pleasant gardens, fruitful orchards and the wealth of shrubbery which adorns the gardens of its residents. Scarcely a home can be found, however limited the extent of ground belonging to it, that cannot exhibit its thrifty fruit trees, luxuriant strawberry patches, gay flower beds and tasty groups of shrubbery: until it has been suggested that Rockford may with propriety be christened and known hereafter as the “Floral City." – Rockford City Directory and County Gazetteer 1869

Our 19th Century Historic Gardens

Northern Illinois has a long tradition of attractive landscapes and lush gardens. In an effort to preserve this heritage, Midway Village Museum has recreated historic gardens in the village using 19th century garden designs, structures, ornamentation and heirloom plants. Eight heirloom gardens along with ten acres of restored natural areas reflect various aspects of turn- of- the -century living and provide the visitor with a unique glimpse of plant varieties seldom seen today. Interpreters in authentic period clothing also use these plants for historic cooking demonstrations, craft projects and decorating. It is our hope that, in addition to the buildings and artifacts of the village, the gardens will help transport you to a time when flowers had a language of their own and neighbors lingered on front porches enjoying the fragrance of sweet peas and honeysuckle.

In addition to the cultivated garden areas, Midway Village Museum is actively engaged in prairie restoration. When the first settlers arrived in Northern Illinois, 22 million acres of prairie dominated the landscape and gave Illinois its nickname, the Prairie State. Today only a fraction of the original prairie survives. An ongoing program aimed at restoring this unique biological community began in 2005. The creation of a native wetland on our museum campus earned the Superior Achievement Award from the Illinois Association of Museums in 2006.

Mission of the Heritage Garden Program
The mission of the Heritage Garden Program at Midway Village Museum is to be committed to the continuing research and development of gardens that will more accurately reflect the cultural landscape of the period 1890-1910, allow for interactive opportunities for the visitor and enhance the grounds of the museum.

A dedicated volunteer at Heritage Gardens

The Heritage Gardens would not exist without the help of dedicated volunteers. For those interested in helping with the gardens, please see our Volunteer area.

Katie Townsend

Katie Townsend (pictured), our Heritage Gardens Manager, brings over 35 years of expertise as a naturalist, and leads a team of 25 dedicated garden volunteers.

If you would like to donate to our Heritage Gardens program, you can do so here by selecting Heritage Gardens from the drop down menu.