We hold ceremonies in any of our venues. Intimate parties will have the most selection and large gatherings will enjoy the use of the grounds and multiple venues. Parties up to 55 guests may consider the Lincoln-Tallman Museum for their ceremony. Ceremonies over 55 guests and all receptions have the option of the Tallman Carriage House or our beautiful grounds and grand porches.

Absolutely. We have a number of special options that you can add to your rental package.

Yes we have a number of options that the bride and groom and their wedding party can use to get ready! Let us know when you visit the site and we can show them to you.

Please take precautions for the possibility of rain through tent rentals. We can refer you to an outside rental company for specific sizes.  Rental tents may have flooring and be enclosed to keep wind and rain away from your beautiful dinner or dance.

As long as the caterer that you choose has a catering license, we are happy to let you choose your own! Feel free to ask us for any recommendations.

All alcohol must be purchased through the Rock County Historical Society. Absolutely no carry-ins of any kind are allowed. We have open bar, cash bar, and combination bar options to make sure that you get exactly what you need.  If you have special requests for alcohol, you may share those requests and we will do our best to accommodate your wishes.

You may bring your own decorations as long as they will not cause any lasting damage to the site. Nails, glitter, flame, confetti, and smoke machines are not allowed.

Yes, all rental time is available to book by the hour. Rehearsal fees are not included in day-of rental time. However, the event coordinator will make sure you feel comfortable with all visits leading up to your event. 

Your rental time will include prep time. Please allow for as much time as you will need to set up and take down your items when you schedule.

We hold events with up to a total of 55 guests in the Lincoln-Tallman House—and you can pick the room! You can hold larger celebrations with over 55 guests on our beautiful grounds and grand porches.

Absolutely. We have a number of special options that you can add onto your rental package.

If your guest count is 55 or under, we are able to relocate your ceremony to the inside of the Lincoln-Tallman House. Otherwise, please take precautions for the possibility of rain through tent rentals. The RCHS can rent tents to you, or we can refer you to an outside rental company for specific sizes.

As long as the caterer that you choose has a catering license, we are happy to let you choose your own! We also have a list of caterers that we have worked with in the past so feel free to ask us for any recommendations.

All alcohol must be purchased through the Rock County Historical Society. Absolutely no carry-ins of any kind are allowed. We have open bar, cash bar, and combination bar options to make sure that you get exactly what you need.

You may bring your own decorations as long as they will not cause any lasting damage to the site. Nails, glitter, flame, confetti, and smoke machines are not allowed.

Due to the fragile nature of the artifacts—and low-hanging gasoliers–we do not allow dance floors in the Lincoln-Tallman House. We are flexible with music and DJs, so feel free to reach out directly to RCHS staff for approval.  Perhaps you would like to add a vendor’s rental tent outdoors and bring a DJ there.  These tents can come with flooring for dances.

Your rental time will include prep time. Please allow for as much time as you will need to set up and take down your items when you schedule.

Our Lower Gallery of the Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center has Wi-Fi, an AV system, a podium, tables and chairs to seat up to 75 guests.

Depending on your set-up and needs, you may have up to 75 people in the lower gallery of the Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center, 55 people in the Lincoln-Tallman House, and 20 people in the Charles Tallman Archives & Research Center.

Absolutely. We have a number of special options that you can add to your rental package. Ask RCHS Development Manager for details at [email protected].

While we do not have our own catering service, we have a great relationship with a number of local caterers to whom we can refer you! You are also free to choose your own caterer and, as long as they have a catering license, they may be used!

Your rental time will include your set up time. Please allow for as much time as you will need to set up and take down your items when you schedule.

This is a tough one! We have had over 5,000 donations since the museum’s opening in 1951. Some donations have only one item and others have hundreds. Does a set of china count as 36 individual pieces or one set?  We have been transferring information from catalog cards into a software program and have recorded 12,730 items as of Dec. 2015.  We have around 23,200 donation cards, which does not include archival materials.

Please contact the Curator/Collections Manager at the museum before bringing items in. We need to determine the Rock County connection, provenance, condition and verify the fit within our collection guidelines. We require a signed and completed Deed of Gift for legal purposes.

The Rock County Historical Society has a written policy about items that will be accepted into the collection. The items need to be consistent with the RCHS mission, not be duplicated, something we can adequately store, conserve and care for, in good condition, free of restrictions and have a clear and legal title.

The Rock County Historical Society cannot provide an appraisal.  We suggest checking published price guides or contacting an appraiser.

Collection care is individual to the item type – paper, textile, wood, metal, etc.  In general, items should be protected from direct sunlight, stored flat, and handled as little as possible while wearing white cotton gloves.  Use acid free materials for mounting and storing.  We would be happy to provide a list of resources for acid free materials and care suggestions.

The program lasts an hour and a half. We have two sessions a day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Programs are offered from late April to early June.

You can either call the museum center (608-756-4509 – ext. 304) or send an email to the Education Curator at [email protected]. The program does fill up quickly and please note this is based on a first come, first served basis.

This program meets both Common Core and Wisconsin and Illinois state standards in a variety of school subjects. More importantly, this is a fun and interactive experience that kids remember. Students will do activities that children did in this one-room school many years ago.

Yes! Be sure to take a look at this great teacher’s resource for pre and post visit activities you can do with your students at school.

Sure thing! We encourage all students to come and play the part of a 19th century one room school student. This program is trying to get kids immersed in history and the deeper the immersion the better!

Each student coming to the program will get a souvenir card that is theirs to keep. Additionally, teachers can elect to make a purchase order for items in our gift shop that pertain to the schoolhouse. If interested, please call (608) 756-4509 ext. 305. The gift shop is open for individual child purchases if the school leaders agree.

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