Rochester is Minnesota’s third-largest city and is located on the south fork of the Zumbro River. It is the home of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic which evolved from a private medical practice in the late 1800s.
The city offers high-quality shopping, independent boutiques, a variety of restaurants, art galleries, parks, and much more. Here are some of the attractions in and around downtown Rochester.
The Plummer Building
Named for one of the co-founders of the Mayo Clinic, the Plummer Building opened in 1928 and housed medical specialties of the clinic. It is now used for many academic and administrative functions.
The 15-story architectural masterpiece features stunning stonework, sculpted bronze doors each weighing 4,000 pounds, a lobby with marble mosaic flooring, and vintage elevators. The third-floor Historical Suite houses the offices of the original Mayo brothers and many artifacts detailing the clinic’s history.
Heritage House Victorian Museum
Close to downtown Rochester on First Street NW is Heritage House, built in 1875 for Timothy and Eliza Whiting. The home survived a tornado in 1883 that destroyed a third of the city. Almost a century later, the house was saved from demolition. In 1972, it was moved to Central Park and restored to its former glory.
Tours of the house are available in June, July, and August with knowledgeable docents pointing out the Victorian antiques and artifacts. It provides a unique insight into what life was like in that era.
Silver Lake Park
If you want to relax and enjoy some nature, Silver Lake Park is just a mile north of downtown. The park features shaded, forested trails, with a 1.8-mile loop around the lake. You can get out on the water in the paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes that are available to rent, or rent a bike to explore the park.
Other amenities at the park include angling, a tier-one skate park, an outdoor swimming pool, and a wheelchair accessible playground. Among the wildlife you might see are large numbers of Canada geese which call the park home.
Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial
The Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial features the Wall of Remembrance which is a fitting tribute to those Minnesota servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. The Trees of Remembrance area contains 50 trees representing each state in America with each tree having been donated. The Walk of Remembrance features more than 6,300 donated pavers which honor veterans who served with the American armed forces or its allies.
Rochester City & Mayo Historical Tour
The Rochester Trolley and Tour Company offers hop-off and hop-on tours of the city’s top attractions and historical sites. Tours run every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, March through May. The narrated tour on the vintage red trolleys takes around 90 minutes, but your ticket is good all day. The company also runs tours to areas of interest outside of the city.
These are just a few of the attractions found around downtown Rochester; with a little exploration, you can discover many more.
Image by August Schwerdfeger is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0
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