Exploring Rochester's Historic Signs And Markers Around Town

If you know where to look, the history of Rochester, Minnesota, is written on the walls, storefronts, and street corners all around town. These reminders don't even take that much digging to see, and point out that even in a fast-growing city, the past is still hiding in plain sight.

If you're a history buff, there are signs all around our fair city that tell a tale about our city's past, while also reflecting on the present. As you might know, Rochester, Minnesota (now known by some as the 'Med City') has been around for a while now, having been incorporated as a city back in 1858.

According to the Minnesota State Demographic Office, Rochester is now the third-largest city in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, behind Minneapolis and St. Paul. It's also the largest city outside the Twin Cities metro area. But even now, over 167 years later, there are several signs from Rochester's past that are still visible today.

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Being a self-proclaimed history geek, I'm always interested in things that give us a glimpse into what things were like before I was here. I'm especially interested in our local Rochester history, probably because while I've been a Rochester resident for nearly 14 years now, and still Iike to get a feel for things that have shaped our community and were important in making Rochester the vibrant city it is today.

Over the years that I've been lucky enough to live and work here, I've noticed several signs in and around Rochester that give us a glimpse of the past. And while I haven't found anything quite 167 years old, take a look at these signs-- some from many years gone by-- right here in current-day Rochester, Minnesota. They're signs of our past... right here in the present!