Portland, 2014 Conference
History of Conferences since 1971

Fall Tour
Rockford, IL 2013 Fall Tour
History of Fall Tours since 1972

Study Tour
History of Study Tours since 1990

SIA Policies
Tour Road Rules
Conference & Tour Refunds

September 26-29, 2013 - Annual SIA Fall Tour
Rockford, Illinois

Select on image to enlarge
Library of Congress image: Bird's eye view of the City of Rockford, Ill, 1880
G4104.R7A3 1880.S7

For more information about the fall tour,
please call the SIA Events coordinator,
Ron Petrie at 216-372-8623 or email siaevents@siahq.org


Fall Tour Headquarters – Fairfield Inn & Suites, 7651 Walton Street, Rockford, IL 61108

This modern hotel is located at the East State Street exit from I-90, adjacent to the Van Galder Bus Terminal (with convenient connections to O’Hare and Chicago) and within easy walking distance of several different kinds of restaurants.  Please reserve before August 26, for a nightly rate of $99 (King) or $109 (Double) – while rooms last – which includes deluxe continental breakfast buffet

For reservations, you may phone 800-228-2800 or 815-398-7400 (identify yourself as an SIA member) or online at http://cwp.marriott.com/rfdrf/sia

There is a Hilton Garden Inn next door operated by the same company.  Friday and Saturday tour buses will depart from the Fairfield/Hilton parking lot.  The Fairfield Inn is a short drive to Midway Village, site of our Welcome Reception on Thursday evening. 

Transportation - Getting to Rockford:

Note: The bus schedule listed in the fall tour brochure is in error. The bus service from Midway airport is NOT every hour. Please be sure to check the bus schedule to Rockford before making your flight or train arrangements to Chicago.

The easiest way to get to Rockford is via Chicago.  If flying, there is a bus connection from O’Hare or Midway Airports. Please be sure to check the bus schedule to Rockford before you make your travel arrangements.  The bus brings you to the Van Galder Bus Terminal which is across the parking lot from the Fairfield Inn or Hilton Garden Inn.  If taking Amtrak, get off in Chicago, then connect to the bus to Rockford. 

Illinois Tollway: I-90 and many other major highways in the Chicago area are toll roads. Tolls are paid via cash (or I-PASS or E-ZPass) at various intervals along the toll road and on some exits. Note: Many of the toll road plaza's have cash lanes that are manned during daytime hours, but some plaza's and exit ramps have toll collection machines that are unmanned and expect exact change or I-PASS or E-ZPass, Be prepared with ready cash and coins, (unless your car has an I-PASS or E-ZPass). You can also pay any unpaid tolls online within 7 days.

See this virtual map of the toll roads and fares.

For more information contact Ron Petrie at siaevents@siahq.org.


Society for Industrial Archeology
Email: sia@mtu.edu
Tel.: 906-487-1889


SIA Home: http://www.sia-web.org or http://www.siahq.org