Article: Brief History of Assisi Heights in Rochester, MN
This stunning building, nestled on a hilltop overlooking the city, has a fascinating past that is sure to captivate visitors from around the world . Assisi Heights was built in 1955 by the Sisters of Saint Francis, the same group of nuns who assisted in the founding of St. Mary's Hospital and the Mayo Clinic. The building was designed as a convent for the nuns, but it quickly became much more than that. Over the years, Assisi Heights served as a retreat center, a meeting place for community organizations, and a cultural hub for the city of Rochester. But Assisi Heights' history goes back even further than its construction in the 1950s. The site on which it stands was originally owned by Dr. William J. Mayo, one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Mayo had a home on the property, which he named "Oxbow," and it was there that he and his family spent many happy summers. When the Sisters of Saint Francis purchased the property in the 1940s, they kept Dr. Mayo's ho