Rochester 101

Best doors

The solid bronze works of art leading into the Plummer Building have only closed eight (or so) times in their 81-year existence. The exquisite panels on both sides of these amazing doors display various aspects of life in Minnesota including domestic and mechanical arts, science, agriculture, folklore, and fine arts. According to legend, the 16-foot tall, 5-inch thick doors were intended to be opened and closed daily, but trying to operate the 8,000-pound entrance proved to be too difficult. Therefore, the doors remained open, closing only as a sign of respect following the deaths of Mayo pioneers Doctors Will, Charlie and Chuck Mayo, Dr. Plummer, early Mayo administrators Balfour and Harwig, and JFK, and following the attacks of 9-11. The doors were closed in 1997 to be cleaned and photographed for the “Doors of Rochester” calendar, and again in 2005 for a renovation, but those don’t count.