Mayowood is the country estate that Dr. Charles H. Mayo and his wife Edith built about 1910 above the Zumbro River on the edge of Rochester. The 38-room mansion is the first large concrete building in southeastern Minnesota and was home to three generations of the Mayo family. It sits on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by Mayo Clinic, and is opened to the public by the History Center of Olmsted County through guided tours, which are the only way to see the interior. The house displays original family artifacts and furnishings, and the setting includes terraces, gardens and views over the river valley. At one time the estate covered thousands of acres, and the family used it for farming, entertaining and relaxation away from the clinic. A visit gives you a different side of the Mayo story than the hospital towers, showing the domestic life, tastes and philanthropy of a family that shaped American medicine. Guided tours run on a seasonal schedule, with themed holiday tours that sell out quickly.
Planning
The address is 3720 Mayowood Road Southwest, a short drive from downtown, and parking is available on site. Tours are guided only and run on a seasonal calendar, with regular tours typically from mid-spring to mid-autumn and holiday tours from early November to mid-December. Tickets can be bought through the History Center of Olmsted County, and holiday tours generally need reservations.
Interior photography has been restricted on regular tours, while outdoor photos are encouraged, so ask your guide at the start. Food and drink are not allowed inside. If anyone in your group needs the accessible entrance, tell the staff when you book.
What to expect
A guided walk through the main rooms, with stories about Dr. Charlie, Edith and their children, the building’s modern conveniences for its era and the way the family used the house for work and for hospitality. The concrete construction was an innovation and sets the home apart from the brick and wood mansions of its day.
Outside you can see the terrace, grounds and river views, and some tours include gardens and a tea house area. Tours take around an hour, so you will not need a full day, and the pace suits older visitors and curious children alike.
Making the most of it
Pair Mayowood with the History Center of Olmsted County’s main campus on West Circle Drive, which holds Mayo family exhibits, and with a Mayo family trolley tour that includes the estate in its story. Book holiday tours early, because the decorated rooms make them the most popular of the year. If you love architecture, ask the guide about the concrete construction and the later changes to the house. The drive along the river valley makes a pleasant outing for photographers, especially in autumn.
Good to know
A historic house tour is a good wet-weather activity, though the grounds are part of the charm in fine weather. The estate once included farm buildings and a dairy operation, and a few traces of that working past remain in the landscape. The History Center asks guests to keep to the group, avoid touching furnishings and follow the guide’s instructions about bags and cameras.
If you are visiting for medical care and have limited time, ask about the day’s schedule when you buy tickets, because tours start on the hour and run for a defined period. Consider calling ahead to confirm hours, since small historic sites sometimes adjust their calendars.
What to expect
The experience
A guided historic house tour of the Mayo family’s 38-room concrete country estate.
Best time
Spring to autumn for regular tours, or early winter for decorated holiday tours.
How long
About one hour.
Tips
Book holiday tours early, ask about interior photography and tell staff about accessibility needs.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and architecture fans who want the family side of the Mayo story.
- Families
- School-age children with an interest in history; very young children are not recommended.
- Couples
- A refined, quiet outing outside the hospital district.
- Pair with
- The History Center of Olmsted County and the Mayo family trolley tour.
- Time needed
- Two hours including travel.
Good questions
Who built Mayowood Mansion?+
Dr. Charles H. Mayo and his wife Edith built it around 1910 as their country estate.
Can I go inside without a tour?+
No. Guided tours are the only way to see the interior.
Who runs the tours?+
The History Center of Olmsted County runs them, though Mayo Clinic owns the property.
When are Christmas tours?+
Holiday-themed tours run from early November to mid-December and sell out quickly, so reserve early.
Where is Mayowood?+
It is at 3720 Mayowood Road Southwest in Rochester, with on-site parking.