Sunday - Day 4

First I need to add a comment about Iowa and Minnesota. Kathy and I have both been surprised at the lack of trash along the roadways and the “neatness” of the homes/farms along the highway (we have purposely stayed off Interstates and travelled on US highways, as much as possible).

Today we went sightseeing in Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic. We first went to Mayowood, home of several generations of the Mayo family.

This is one side of the home. Photo taken from visitors parking lot.

A Mayo foundation has spent $4 million bring the mansion back up to its original splendor. Dr. Charles H. Mayo, the first Dr. Mayo, arrived in Rochester in 1863. Mayowood was built in 1911, by Dr. Charles H. Mayo. Their son, Dr. Charles W. Mayo, and his family lived in the house until the late 1960’s, basically until the death of the Dr. and his wife.

They don’t allow photos inside the mansion. If interested, you can see some photos at http://history.mayoclinic.org/tours-events/mayowood.php

A question that kept rolling through my mind was, “Where did the Mayo’s get enough money to build this palace, and buy 3,000 acres of farmland?”

Then we drove downtown to see the Plummer Building. We knew we couldn’t get in on Sunday but I wanted to see it anyway. It was built in 1928 and named for Henry S. Plummer, M.D. who created many of the systems and procedures used at the Mayo Clinic. The building reminds me a little of the Staley Building in Decatur, IL, where I worked for 12 years.

 Note the arched entry in the photo above. Below is a photo looking directly at it. There are 16' tall bronze doors at the entrance. I doubt that the doors are ever closed.

You can see more about it at http://history.mayoclinic.org/tours-events/plummer-building.php

The Mayo complex huge. As I walked around the block I happed on the entrance to the Mayo Clinic. If you enlarge the photo you might be able to read the Mayo Clinic sign above the entrance.

During our morning travels we happened upon “the world’s largest ear of corn”, it’s a functioning water tower. It was built in the early 1930’s.

More information at https://theparkerrochester.com/our-150-foot-tall-ear-of-corn/

Then it was back to the Rochester/Marion KOA campground where we are staying. We went to the pool for awhile and then came back to the camper and just enjoyed the rest of the day. Temperatures were in the low 80's but with the gentle breeze it didn't seem uncomfortably that warm until around 5 PM.

 The campground is small but it is full of trees. I took the photo below Sunday afternoon. Not a lot of campers here tonight.

Topped the tank off with fuel while we were out and about, $3.20/gal. Tomorrow we head north, into Wisconsin.