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Mayo Clinic Archives in Rochester

W. Bruce Fye Center For the History of Medicine

Mayo Clinic Under Construction

Men at construction site

Rochester Methodist Hospital north expansion project construction site, 1986.

Now more than ever, the staff and patients of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester are feeling the impacts of Bold. Forward. Unbound. This project advances Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. strategy which includes the construction of two new clinical buildings and two new patient parking ramps. Once this project is completed, downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic will be drastically different. 

To look back at how Mayo Clinic has changed and expanded over time, this exhibit focuses on the history of construction and the demolition of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester. You can learn more about scrapped building plans and how the availability of parking has always been a topic of discussion. This exhibit includes a timeline of major construction and demolition events at Mayo Clinic, a variety of building construction photographs, newspaper clippings, and artifacts.

Timeline

1889-1928

Mayo Clinic Construction, 1889-1928

This timeline highlights when the construction of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester began, when these buildings opened, when certain buildings were demolished, and when certain additions were added to these buildings. Note this timeline does not include when every building was demolished or when every addition was completed.

Scroll through the gallery to view the entire timeline.

1936-1962

Mayo Clinic Construction, 1936-1962

This timeline highlights when the construction of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester began, when these buildings opened, when certain buildings were demolished, and when certain additions were added to these buildings. Note this timeline does not include when every building was demolished or when every addition was completed. 

1965-1985

Mayo Clinic Construction, 1965-1985

This timeline highlights when the construction of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester began, when these buildings opened, when certain buildings were demolished, and when certain additions were added to these buildings. Note this timeline does not include when every building was demolished or when every addition was completed. 

1986-1994

Mayo Clinic Construction, 1986-1994

This timeline highlights when the construction of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester began, when these buildings opened, when certain buildings were demolished, and when certain additions were added to these buildings. Note this timeline does not include when every building was demolished or when every addition was completed. 

1997-2014

Mayo Clinic Construction, 1997-2014

This timeline highlights when the construction of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester began, when these buildings opened, when certain buildings were demolished, and when certain additions were added to these buildings. Note this timeline does not include when every building was demolished or when every addition was completed. 

2015-2030

Mayo Clinic Construction, 2015-2030

This timeline highlights when the construction of Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester began, when these buildings opened, when certain buildings were demolished, and when certain additions were added to these buildings. Note this timeline does not include when every building was demolished or when every addition was completed. 

Construction Views

Tools used in construction of Plummer Building

Tools used in construction of Plummer Building

Screwdriver bit, auger and wire snip used in the construction of the Plummer Building.

Safety First!

Post Bulletin article about the demolition of the 1914 Building

Post Bulletin article about the demolition of the 1914 Building. Post Bulletin. Vol. 61, No. 191. August 11, 1986

What Could Have Been

Mayovox clipping about a discarded plan to make the Mayo Building 32 stories tall. Mayovox Vol. 1, No. 7. February 18, 1950

Mayovox clipping about a discarded plan to make the Mayo Building 32 stories tall. Mayovox Vol. 1, No. 7. February 18, 1950

What Could Have Been

Post Bulletin article about a potential 60-to-65 story Mayo Clinic building being built.

Post Bulletin article about a potential 60-to-65 story Mayo Clinic building being built. Post Bulletin. December 31, 1983

What's the Deal With Parking?

Saint Marys Hospital News Bulletin article about new parking recommendations that were going to be implemented to help with the lack of parking spaces for staff.

Saint Marys Hospital News Bulletin article about new parking recommendations that were going to be implemented to help with the lack of parking spaces for staff. Saint Marys Hospital News Bulletin. Vol. 43, No. 9. September 1984

Commemorative Parking Ramp Mug

Saint Marys Hospital Parking Ramp II groundbreaking mug

Saint Marys Hospital Parking Ramp II groundbreaking mug. 04/08/1988

Ceremonial Brick (1914 Building)

: Ceremonial brick from the 1914 Building

Ceremonial brick from the 1914 Building given as a Development gift. The text on the brick reads “This brick from the Mayo Clinic’s 1914 Building, the first ever constructed for group practice of medicine, recognizes your gift to the Harold W. Siebens Medical Education Building and your participation in the advancement of medical practice, research, and education at Mayo.” 1989

Aerial Views

Safety First!

Post Bulletin article about the demolition of the 1914 Building

Post Bulletin article about how the Mayo Clinic issued multilingual construction warnings during the demolition of the 1914 Building and the building of the Siebens Building. Post Bulletin. August 5, 1986

"Healthy Dan's" soup can

"Healthy Dan's" soup can

“Healthy Dan’s Select Soup” given to attendees of the grand reopening and re-dedication of the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center. 04/03/2014

What's the Deal With Parking?

Mayovox clipping about the popularity of the Damon Parkade. Mayovox Vol. 13, No. 22. September 1, 1962

Mayovox clipping about the popularity of the Damon Parkade. Mayovox Vol. 13, No. 22. September 1, 1962

What's the Deal With Parking?

Saint Marys Hospital News Bulletin article about a parking survey that was conducted that “most certainly will mean an all but permanent end to the parking problems at Saint Marys Hospital”.

Saint Marys Hospital News Bulletin article about a parking survey that was conducted that “most certainly will mean an all but permanent end to the parking problems at Saint Marys Hospital”. Saint Marys Hospital News Bulletin. Vo. 32, No. 1. January 1973

Credits

This exhibit was designed and curated by the staff of The W. Bruce Fye Center for the History of Medicine. All images and artifacts are from the Center unless otherwise stated.

To learn more about Mayo Clinic history, heritage and the history of medicine, visit:

List of Current and Past Exhibits