Mayowood
Tours resume September 1st, 2021

Mayowood History

A tour of Mayowood Mansion is to experience the personal lives of Dr. Charlie Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic, and his son, Dr. Chuck Mayo, and gives visitors an opportunity to celebrate their amazing achievements in medicine and human service.

The 23,000-square foot, thirty-eight room mansion was built in 1910 by Dr. Charlie and Edith Mayo. The home is built of concrete construction, the first of its kind in southeast Minnesota. Once a 3,300-acre country estate, the mansion has seen many changes over the years.

Indoors, original Mayo family artifacts tell the story of their many world travels and how the home was used as a house of hospitality to entertain the community and VIP celebrity guests.

Outdoors, the mansion is surrounded by a grand terrace overlooking the Zumbro River along with beautiful botanical gardens and an Oriental Tea House.

In collaboration, the home and property is owned and operated by Mayo Clinic, while the History Center of Olmsted County conducts public tours, special events, and owns much of the original family archival collection.

Today you're invited to explore Mayowood Mansion and immerse yourself in the lives and legacy of the famous Mayo Clinic doctors who helped change the world of medicine.

To order tickets today, please call (507) 282-9447. Tours resume September 1st, 2021.

Keeping Us All Safe: COVID Precautions

All visitors and staff must wear masks while on the Mayowood Mansion property. The following are not acceptable as masks: Masks with vents and athletic neck gaiters, bandanas or crochet material. New evidence suggests they may be less effective than cloth masks.

Social distancing is encouraged.

No food or drink will be permitted inside of the mansion. 

If you are feeling sick, have flu-like symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who has recently had COVID-19, please visit us another time.

Location
Admission Hours
Christmas Tours
Special Event Tours
Tickets

Welcome to Mayowood Mansion located at:
3720 Mayowood Road SW
Rochester, MN 55902

Parking is available at Mayowood and tickets may be purchased at the mansion approximately 20 minutes prior to your selected tour time.

Directions if coming from West Circle Drive or Salem Road:

  • Turn onto County Road 25
  • Drive past Autumn Ridge Church on right
  • Turn left onto Mayowood Road
  • Once over the Zumbro River bridge, turn right and drive through the Mayowood entrance gate and up the hill to the mansion parking lot
  • Alternate Salem Road Directions:
  • Turn onto Bamber Valley Road (County Road 8)
  • At stop sign turn right (Bamber Valley School on left after turn)
  • Drive past the Stone Barn Event Center on right
  • Take first left and drive through the Mayowood entrance gate and up the hill to the mansion parking lot

For additional assistance with directions, please call 507-282-9447

Mayowood Mansion is privately owned by Mayo Clinic and is closed to the general public on non-tour days.

                                                                          

Mayowood Mansion Ticket Admission:

Tours resume September 1st, 2021. 

To order your tickets, please call (507) 282-9447. 

Adults: $17
Children: $5
Children under 3: NOT RECOMMENDED
  • Weekday tours begin at 10am and run hourly until 3pm
  • Sunday tours begin at noon and run hourly until 3pm

Regular Season Tours:

September 1—September 29: 

Tours start on the hour and run regularly on the hour. 

Sunday: 12pm—3pm
Wednesday: 10am—3pm
Thursday: 10am—3pm
Saturday: 10am—3pm

October 2—October 30: 

Tours start on the hour and run regularly on the hour. 

Sunday: 12pm—3pm
Wednesday: 10am—3pm
Saturday: 10am—3pm

Additional Information

  • All Mayowood tours are conducted by professional tour guides and tours last approximately one hour.
  • Groups of 20 or more may call 507-282-9447 or email mayowood@olmstedhistory.com for group pricing and guidelines.
  • Visitors may purchase tour tickets at Mayowood Mansion approximately 20 minutes prior to the selected tour time.
  • Photography is not permitted inside the mansion but outdoor photos are encouraged.
  • Mayowood Mansion is privately owned by Mayo Clinic and is closed to the general public on non-tour days.

Christmas Tours:

Mayowood Christmas Tours are by reservation only and begin at the History Center of Olmsted County.

Mayowood Christmas – Putting on the Ritz:

2021 dates and cost:

Adults: $25
Children: $10
Children under 3: NOT RECOMMENDED

Schedule:

Sunday: 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm
Wednesday: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm
Thursday: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm
Friday: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm
Saturday: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm

Reservations are required

For reservations, call the History Center at 507-282-9447.

To schedule a group tour, please email mayowood@olmstedhistory.com. Dates and times are subject to change due to inclement weather or special events.

Tours begin at the History Center, where light refreshments are provided along with a short film about Mayowood and the Mayo Family. The film will begin on time at your scheduled tour time, so please arrive at the History Center 15 minutes early. Afterward, a vintage trolley will shuttle you to Mayowood Mansion and return you to the History Center at the conclusion of the tour. The tour is guided and lasts about one hour. Please let guides know if anyone needs the handicap accessible entrance. Your paid ticket also includes a self-guided tour of the Exhibit Gallery and Research Center at the History Center, which you can do before or after the Christmas Tour.

If you have questions, please call 507-282-9447 or email services@olmstedhistory.com or mayowood@olmstedhistory.com

Special Event Tours

Special Event Tours require reservation and begin at Mayowood unless otherwise noted. You can see a full list of upcoming Mayowood Specialty Tours here. 

“Beautiful Inside and Out: Mayowood Art & Garden Specialty Tour” September 12, 2021 at 1:00 PM CST
This one-and-a-half-hour experience includes a tour of the interior of stunning Mayowood Mansion, paying special attention to the artwork and the artists who created them. Once through the house, guests will tour the beautiful gardens, where gardens of the past and present are highlighted. Refreshments will be provided in the tea house. You can reserve your tickets here. 
Cost: $30


“Conserving Mayowood: Past, Present, and Future” October 2, 2021 at 1:00 PM CST

This one-hour tour highlights the many preservation and conservation projects the charming Mayowood Mansion and its artifacts have undergone in recent years. Guests will discover the importance of preservation to the legacy of Mayowood. You can reserve your tickets here. 

Cost: $25

Tickets

The 2020 Mayowood Tours will look at different VIP guests who have visited throughout the years. Mayowood was once a 3,300-acre estate outside of Rochester, established by Dr. Charles H. Mayo, co-founder of Mayo Clinic. The centerpiece of the property is the 38-room mansion, completed in 1910, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. In collaboration, the home and property are now owned and operated by Mayo Clinic; the History Center of Olmsted County conducts public tours, special events, and owns much of the original family collection. Tickets can be purchased directly at the mansion approximately 20 minutes before the selected tour time. Each guided tour lasts about one hour.

Group tours available upon request by emailing mayowood@olmstedhistory.com

Select Date/Time to begin