Plummer House of the Arts is a Tudor-style mansion on a hill above the Zumbro River that Dr. Henry S. Plummer, an early Mayo Clinic physician, designed for himself and his wife Daisy beginning in 1917. The five-story, 49-room house sits on 11 acres of lawns, formal gardens and a bird trail, and it now belongs to the city and is managed by Parks and Recreation as a public park and arts and events venue. The grounds are free to explore from sunrise to sunset when the property is not reserved, which makes them one of the most pleasant free outings in Rochester. Interior tours have been offered on selected days, mostly on summer Wednesdays, and the house hosts weddings, concerts and community events. For visitors the combination of a grand house, mature trees, perennial gardens and a quiet bird trail provides a calm counterpoint to the intensity of the hospital district. It is an especially good place for companions who want a break, for photographers and for anyone interested in the physician-inventor whose ideas shaped the clinic buildings downtown.
Planning
The address is 1091 Plummer Lane Southwest, a short drive from downtown and the Mayo campus. Because the venue is frequently reserved for weddings and private events, check the city calendar before you go if you want to stroll the grounds, and call ahead about interior tours, which have been offered mainly in summer and may require no advance tickets. Parking is available on site. Dress for the outdoors, wear walking shoes for the bird trail and bring a camera. Winter visits are possible, but gardens are quiet and the house is usually closed.
What to expect
The house is a landmark in the English Tudor revival style, with timbered gables, stone and brick and tall windows. The gardens change by season, with spring bulbs, summer perennials and autumn color, and the bird trail winds through trees where songbirds gather. Inside, tours show rooms that reflect the era’s taste and Dr. Plummer’s own ideas. The atmosphere is peaceful and unhurried, and it is rarely crowded outside event days.
Making the most of it
Combine the house with a visit to Mayowood Mansion to compare two Mayo-era homes, or with the Plummer Building downtown, which bears the same name and shows Dr. Plummer’s hand in a very different context. Picnic along the grounds if the weather is good, and ask about summer concerts and garden events. Because it is free, the house is an easy add-on for budget-minded travelers and families.
Good to know
Because the house is a rentable venue, you may see wedding parties on summer weekends, which many visitors find part of the charm but which can limit access to some areas. Weekday mornings are the quietest time for photography and birding. The park is a good place to see how Rochester’s medical wealth shaped its architecture and landscape, with large lots, mature trees and well-kept lawns.
Check seasonal garden events and arts programs, which the city sometimes schedules on the grounds, and bring water in hot weather since there are few services in the gardens themselves.
Dress for the outdoors, since the best parts of the visit are the lawns, the formal garden beds and the shaded bird trail. Spring and early summer bring the strongest bloom, while autumn gives the old trees their color and quiet weekday mornings give the best chance of seeing songbirds.
What to expect
The experience
A Tudor-style mansion with free gardens and a bird trail, plus occasional interior tours.
Best time
Late spring to early autumn, when the gardens are at their best.
How long
One to two hours.
Tips
Check the city calendar for private events and ask about interior tour days.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Garden lovers, photographers and history fans.
- Families
- Open lawns and gardens suit children, but the house is not a play space.
- Couples
- A calm, romantic setting for a walk.
- Pair with
- Mayowood Mansion or a stroll along the Zumbro River trails.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
Who designed Plummer House?+
Dr. Henry S. Plummer, an early Mayo Clinic physician, designed the house, with work beginning in 1917.
How big is the property?+
The mansion has 49 rooms over five stories and sits on 11 acres.
Are the grounds free?+
Yes. The grounds are free and open sunrise to sunset when the property is not reserved.
Can I tour the inside?+
Interior tours are offered on selected days, mostly summer Wednesdays. Check the current schedule.
Where is it?+
At 1091 Plummer Lane Southwest in Rochester.