Charles E. Gagnon Museum & Sculpture Garden — Attraction in Rochester

Since 2012, Arlyn Gagnon, widow of bronze sculptor Charles Eugene Gagnon, has transformed her home in Southwestern Rochester, Minnesota into a museum displaying Mr. Gagnon’s splendid works of art. House/museums are relatively rare in the United States - more common in Europe. The abode is spacious and filled with both natural and artificial light that make it an excellent venue for exhibiting art. Visitors also can explore a well-lighted work area where Mr. Gagnon’s tools, molds, and media are on display, as well as a detailed step-by-step visual regarding Lost Wax Casting. Mrs. Gagnon is a learned and entertaining tour guide with hundreds of fascinating stories. HIGHLY...

We had a wonderful tour with Chuck's wife Arlyn. The tour was estimated to last 2.5 hours which we did not think would be possible. And yet, the time sped by so much so that we regretfully had to rush a little at the end to make an appointment. We are not art people, but Arlyn was patient and talked at our level without coming across as condescending. We realized after we had left that we had learned more than we thought we had about the artist, the process, the life - and maybe most of all, the love and admiration that Arlyn conveys for the artist and...

We are visiting the beautiful city of Rochester while we are at Mayo Clinic. Visiting the Charles E. Gagnon Museum was the highlight of our trip! Arlyn, Charles’s wife, was remarkable as our guide. Her stories regarding the sculptures made us feel a personal and intimate connection with the artist and his creations. He truly was a gifted sculptor and we were blessed to learn so much about all the good things that he and his lovely wife were able to accomplish. This museum is...