The dining room of Mayowood Mansion sparkles for a holiday feast.
“Everybody is thrilled to see the home,” Dahl said. “The themes and decorations are different every year. You always see something new. People often get inspired for ways to decorate their own homes. We invite people to come on out. It’s a wonderful event.” Dahl encouraged anyone interested in the tour to think about going in November, because the December dates fill up fast. Dr. Charles Horace Mayo and his wife, Edith, were the first ones to live in the mansion, and they stayed there until 1939. Dr. Chuck Mayo and his wife, Alice, lived in the mansion until 1965, when they turned it over to the Olmsted County Historical Center. Mayo Clinic took control of the mansion and its 10 acres of land in 2013. “The Mayo family wanted the home to continue to be used and enjoyed by the community,” Dahl said. “Mayo (Clinic) has made many wonderful restorations to the home. There’s always a project to be done.” All tours include a trolley ride from the historical center to Mayowood and back and they last approximately one hour. Christmas tours will be held at Mayowood from Nov. 2 to Dec. 15. Tours run daily at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and there will also be a 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. tour on Dec. 6 and Dec. 14. The tour will be closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving day, Dec. 10 and Dec. 11. Tours cost $25 for adults and $10 for children who are ages 3-12. The mansion is open for regular tours from late April to early October. 54 | Austin Living | November–December 2019
A bright Christmas setting inspires in this sitting room at Mayowood Mansion.
One of the many rooms decorated for Christmas including a collection of Santa Claus figures.