Mayo Clinic to Celebrate Heritage Days Oct. 3–7

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Staff, volunteers and retirees will celebrate Mayo Clinic's history and milestones during the annual Heritage Days celebration, Oct. 3–7. Everyone is welcome to join in this weeklong event. This year's theme, "Growing Our Heritage," focuses on nurturing Mayo's heritage, culture and values to support its mission to serve the needs of each patient.

A variety of Heritage Days events will take place across the Rochester campus throughout the week. Midday musical concerts and dance performances are planned Monday through Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at several locations. Commemorative displays featuring Mayo Clinic's notable anniversaries can be found in Mathews Grand Lobby in the Mayo Building.

During Heritage Days, two vintage automobiles, a 1931 "Waldorf" Pierce-Arrow and a 1914 Model T Speedster, will be on display at Annenberg Plaza (located between the Plummer and Mayo buildings). The "Waldorf" Pierce-Arrow is restored to showroom quality and includes its original interior and top. The car was featured at the New York Auto Show and displayed in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The Model T Speedster is a classic speedster, restored to its original condition. Henry Ford, who developed the Model T, was a friend of Dr. William J. Mayo. This car rolled off the assembly line in 1914, the same year that Mayo's first building designed for the integrated group practice of medicine opened on the site of what is today the Siebens Building.

Stop by to get a glimpse of these rare cars and learn how Mayo Clinic "got rolling" in the early years before World War I. Both vehicles are owned by Fred and Ramona Trachsel of Rochester and they are loaning them for display Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The public is welcome to participate in the week's festivities. Event listings, features and other information can be found at any information desk on campus. Information is also posted online.

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