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Probably
more famous for its world-renown Mayo Clinic,
Rochester does have a few other notable attractions. There's the Chateau Theatre
with its beautifully restored French Village decor - now occupied by a B
& N Bookstore and a Starbucks coffee bar. There's the Assisi
Heights, almost a carbon copy of the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi
in Italy. And there's our favorite: the Rochester
Carillon at the Mayo Clinic which rings out melodious tunes 7p Mondays
and at noon Wednesdays and Fridays. But, first of all, there is the
visitors' center. Visitors'
Center - Located in downtown Rochester at 111 South Broadway...
From I-90 eastbound take exit 209-B and drive north on US-63 into
Rochester. The Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau is at the end of
the block following 2nd Street SE.
From I-90 westbound take exit 218 and drive west on the US-52
freeway to the US-63 exit. Exit onto US-63 northbound and drive north on
US-63 into Rochester. The Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau is at
the end of the block following 2nd Street SE.
For more information, phone 1-800-634-8277 (toll free) - or visit
their attractive web site RochesterCVB. Mayo
Clinic - Nearly everyone in the western industrial countries has
heard of the Mayo Clinic. Now, at 10a Monday through Friday you can see a
short film about the Clinic followed by a conducted tour. At 1:30p
Tuesdays and Thursdays only, they have a special tour taking in some of
the art work and architecture.
For more information, phone 1-507- 282-9447. Chateau Theatre
- You don't have to buy a book to view the historic Chateau Theatre
downtown. Now occupied by a Barn & Noble Bookstore (with a co-resident
Starbucks coffee bar) this ornate theatre with its exterior illuminated
sunburst.
Barns & Noble is at 15 1st Street SW, just around the corner
from the Rochester
Convention & Visitors Bureau (see
above). Assisi Heights
- This Italian Romanesque structure is the
residence of the Sisters of St. Francis . It also functions as the Assisi Community Center.
One-hour Tours of the ornate lobby with its beautiful Romanesque ceiling and
German hand-blown stained glass windows are conducted Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays at 2p. It is located at 1001 14th St. NW. From
the Rochester
Convention & Visitors Bureau, drive north on Broadway (US-63) to 14th
Street. Turn left and drive out 14th Street to 10th Avenue and the very
recognizable convent is on the corner. For more information, phone 1-507-280-2180.
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Rochester
Carillon - Housed in the Plummer Building at the Mayo Clinic, this
56 bell carillon is played by a special keyboard and the bells do not move
(they are struck by electrically-driven pistons). Every Monday evening at
7p and at noon Wednesdays and Fridays they ring out 20 to 25 minute
concerts of familiar tunes. Tours of the facility can be arranged by
making an appointment (phone 1-507-284-8294 or 1-507-282-3730).
CDs are available at the Mayo Clinic gift shop. The last we heard,
they were priced at $10 each.
From the Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau at 111 S.
Broadway, go two blocks west. The Plummer Building is on 2nd Avenue SW
midway between 1st and 2nd Streets. Olmsted County Museum
- This history center and museum chronicle the progress of Rochester and
its people from pioneer days to the present.. On the premises is the 1862
William Dee Log Cabin, completely restored, plus the Hadley Valley School House, an
old-timey one-room school furnished with all the artifacts of ca 1900s
education.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9a to 5p except major holidays.
For more information, phone the Historical Society at
1-507-282-9447 or visit their web site at OlmstedHistory.
From the
Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau at 111 S. Broadway, go south on
Broadway (US-64) to 12th Street SW. Turn right and go west on 12th Street,
past the US-52 freeway to the end of 12th Street. Turn left and follow
Salem Road (CR-25) southbound, around the wide curve next to Bamber Lake,
to West Circle Drive (CR-22). Turn right on Circle Drive. The museum and
its adjacent farm, is about 500 yards up the street at 1195 West Circle
Drive.
From I-90 eastbound, take exit 209-B and follow US-63 to the
US-52 freeway. Exit to US-52 westbound and follow US-52 to the first
exit which is 16th Street SW. Turn left onto 16th Street, go to the end
and turn left and follow
Salem Road (CR-25) southbound, around the wide curve next to Bamber Lake,
to West Circle Drive (CR-22). Turn right on Circle Drive. The museum and
its adjacent farm, is about 500 yards up the street at 1195 West Circle
Drive.
From I-90 westbound, take exit 218 and drive west on the US-52
freeway to the 16th Street SW exit. Turn left onto 16th Street, go to the
end and turn left and follow
Salem Road (CR-25) southbound, around the wide curve next to Bamber Lake,
to West Circle Drive (CR-22). Turn right on Circle Drive. The museum and
its adjacent farm, is about 500 yards up the street at 1195 West Circle
Drive.
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