Cities, like people, are always changing. As Rochester’s population expands and growth accelerates at what seems like an exponential rate, questions have been bubbling to the surface. Who determines Rochester’s future? What priorities matter as the city grows? Will this city be a place that we can all call home long into the future?
To understand the future of our city, there’s value in pausing to look back at how we got here. What brought us to this point, and what values can we carry forward into our future?
Below are five books that help to tell Rochester’s story. As we embrace the questions being asked, we invite you to read these books, talk about them with your community, and join us in writing the next chapter together in a way that celebrates our unique local identity.
Rochester: An Urban Biography, by Virginia M. Wright-Peterson
Available for purchase at Garden Party Books
In Rochester: An Urban Biography, author Virginia Wright-Peterson details how Rochester has always been at a crossroads. Through entertaining and informative storytelling, she explores the long history of the Dakota and Ho-Chunk people living throughout the Zumbro River region. The narrative traces the city’s modern origins to 1854, when it began as a humble stagecoach stop between St. Paul and Dubuque, Iowa. Wright-Peterson then guides readers through Rochester’s major turning points, including the devastating tornado that led to the creation of the Mayo Clinic and the economic shifts of IBM-Rochester. She also discusses the modern growth we are currently experiencing through the Destination Medical Center initiative. Woven throughout, Wright-Peterson masterfully examines our unique, local identity, giving voice to those who have helped to make this city the place that it is.
Rochester Black Legacy, by Andre Crockett, Sr.
Available for purchase at Griot Arts Bookstore
Rochester Black Legacy traces the history of Early African American families that arrived in Rochester in the 1960s through the 1990s, moving here for better jobs, homes, and schools for their children. Their arrival marked the start of a new chapter for the city, laying the groundwork for a thriving Black community and creating a legacy of resilience and connection. In Rochester Black Legacy, author Andre Crockett, Sr. explores many of the city’s firsts, from the earliest Black students and professionals to the first Black church and civic leaders. Through his thoughtful research and history-telling, we get a stunning glimpse of the legacy of Black excellence in this community.
Hidden History of Rochester, Minnesota, by Amy Jo Hahn
While there are many stories that tell the history of Rochester related to the creation of Mayo Clinic, Hidden History of Rochester, Minnesota documents stories that haven’t received as much attention. Inside, you’ll discover trailblazers like Minnie Bowron, who became the city’s first policewoman in 1917. You’ll also learn about William Costley, the son of the first enslaved person freed by Abraham Lincoln, who lived out his final months at the Rochester State Hospital. Author Amy Jo Hahn’s narrative storytelling is a beautiful picture of the fascinating people that have made Rochester what it is today.
Rochester Stories: A Med City History, by Paul Scanlon, MD
Why was a world-class institution like the Mayo Clinic built in the middle of a quiet farming community? What happened to the Native Americans who first called this land home? Were there ever actually bears in Bear Creek? And why, of all places, does Rochester have so many geese? In Rochester Stories: A Med City History, retired Mayo Clinic physician Paul Scanlon, MD, helps to answer these questions and more. His stories shine a whole new light on our city’s landmarks, and they will leave you seeing our city with fresh perspective.
Rochester, Minnesota: A Visual and Historic Journey, by Dean Riggott
With 79 spectacular photographs and captions that blend historic facts with insider tidbits, Rochester, Minnesota: A Visual and Historic Journey captures the evolution of our community. Beyond its beautiful imagery and deep-dive history section, it’s the kind of book that changes your perspective, leaving you driving down Broadway with fresh eyes for how this city has transformed over the years.
We love supporting local independent bookstores and highly recommend visiting one of the amazing locally-owned Rochester options. If you plan to purchase online, you can support either of these local bookstores by ordering through Bookshop. When you order books at Bookshop, books are shipped directly to you, and the local bookstore of your choice receives 30 percent of the purchase price.
