“In Rochester: An Urban Biography, Virginia Wright-Peterson not only captures the
intricacies that make our city one of a kind but also places a much-deserved emphasis on Rochester’s Dakota and Ho-Chunk roots. This book offers a renewed and timely look at the diverse events that have cultivated our city of compassion and innovation by not only exploring our history but also envisioning the milestones yet to come.”
Kim Norton, mayor of Rochester
“This engaging narrative will surprise anyone who only knows of Rochester, Minnesota, as the home of Mayo Clinic. Virginia Wright-Peterson mixes stories of people, places, and events as she sketches a portrait of a city with a distinctive, and sometimes troubling, past, present, and future.”
Thomas F. Weber, Rochester journalist and historian
“A city’s big story is the one it tells about itself, a story that celebrates successes and
helps it grow. But it’s the other stories, the hidden histories, that can reveal what sits
beneath our unresolved problems. Virginia Wright-Peterson demonstrates why these
richly illuminating narratives should come from multiple perspectives. And knowing
about this complicated history can help our city live up to the legacy we claim.”
Mia Erickson, board president, Diversity Council, Rochester