Mayowood Christmas Tours Have Started

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - It may not quite feel like Christmas - although the weather does! - but it’s that time of year for a Rochester holiday tradition.

The annual Christmas Tours at Mayowood Mansion start Saturday and will be offered through Dec 16th. The tours are organized as a fundraiser by the History Center of Olmsted County.

Here is the info on the tours:

Christmas tours are by reservation only. Christmas Tour Admission: Adults (12 & up) - $25.00 Children (5 - 12) - $10.00 Children under 4 – FREE! Tours will begin at the History Center with light refreshments and a film about Mayowood and the Mayo family. Visitors will then ride a trolley up to the mansion and receive a guided tour lasting about one hour. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the History Center at 507-282-9447. No refunds or exchanges will be given.

Here are some pics from a "sneak peek" event Friday night:

If you haven’t taken one of these tours, give it some serious thought. You will get a taste of history, some Christmas cheer and help support a great community organization!

Also, a shout-out to Mayo Clinic for all the work that has been done at the mansion.  The work literally saved this historic building from falling apart!  And more and more artifacts and other items from the Mayo family are on display.  You really do get a sense of what it was like when the Mayos lived here and celebrated Christmas!

News update: The Pope honors a graduate of St Mary’s University.