1166 - Mayo Clinic Plummer Building and Bronze Doors

Here we are at the Plummer Building—Mayo Clinic’s 1928 landmark—and your eye goes straight to these monumental bronze doors. Each leaf rises 16 feet and weighs about 4,000 pounds, yet they pivot with surprising grace. They’re 5½ inches thick and built from a grid of forty-two 18-by-21-inch panels.

Look closely at the panels: you’ll see repeating ornamental patterns and sculpted scenes that celebrate knowledge, healing, and the region’s lifeways—motifs ranging from science and education to agriculture and Minnesota lore. Much of the modeling was created by St. Paul sculptor Charles (Carlo) Brioschi, who developed many designs while recovering just across the street.

These doors are more than a grand entrance—they’re a statement of welcome. By tradition, they remain open, symbolizing Mayo Clinic’s readiness to receive anyone in need. They close only at moments of great solemnity—after the deaths of Mayo Clinic leaders or during national tragedies. In recent decades, they’ve been shut rarely, including after the events of September 11, 2001, and in July 2020 to mark the start of a major anti-racism initiative.

Step through and imagine the flow of patients who’ve crossed this threshold for nearly a century, guided by Dr. Henry Plummer’s vision of an integrated group practice. Above, the tower holds a 56-bell carillon whose music still spills over downtown Rochester—another reminder that this is a civic as well as a medical landmark.

In earlier years, a genial doorman named Joe Fritsch—nicknamed “Joe Clinic”—greeted visitors right here, turning this imposing portal into a place of personal welcome.

So as you pause at the threshold, take in the craftsmanship: the weight, the symbolism, and the light catching on bronze. These are doors that tell a story—of art and medicine intertwined—and they’re still doing their quiet work: being open to the world.