Mayowood Mansion is a special place.   Dr. Charles Mayo built the historic home in 1911 and lived in it until his passing in 1939.   It was a wonderful home for Dr. Charlie, his wife Edith Graham Mayo and their family.  My grandmother (Minnie Graham Ackerman) was Charlie and Edith’s niece and she used to tell me stories of her many visits to the mansion when she was a little girl.

History Center of Olmsted Co. Facebook
History Center of Olmsted Co. Facebook
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Of the 40 rooms at Mayowood, her favorite was the ballroom where the kids were allowed to run around and play all day.

The estate features beautiful gardens and Dr. Mayo’s decorative arts collection.  Many of the rooms are furnished in French, Spanish, German, English and American antiques.   Many dignitaries have stayed at the home over the years including Kings, Queens, Emperors and even Presidents.

Today, the mansion is known for its popular annual Christmas tours in December.  That’s when many of the rooms are cheerfully decorated for the holidays, much like they would have been a hundred years ago.  Mayowood has been closed to the public since last Christmas so that construction crews could work on restoration and renovation projects to preserve the historic home.

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History Center of Olmsted Co. Facebook
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The History Center of Olmsted County is pleased to announce that the 2014 public tour season at Mayowood Mansion will begin on Saturday, June 14. Guided tours on the opening day are scheduled for 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, and 2:00PM. All visitors on June 14 will receive a Mayowood keepsake. For advance reservations, contact the History Center at 507-282-9447.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been on a Mayowood tour, but I’m looking forward to seeing it again.  And I’ll imagine my grandma as a little girl having the time of her life at this magical place.

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