Van Horn Public Library invites all area residents to the final event in our One Town, One Title program. Each year SELCO works with local libraries to build regional author tours around Minnesota Book Award (MNBA) finalists and winners.  Van Horn Public Library is delighted to be part of the 2017 tour which features regional favorite Doug Ohman at 7:00pm on March 2^nd at the Pine Island Area Historical Center, 314 North Main Street. This event, like all in the series, is free and open to the public.

An avid speaker, storyteller, and photographer, Doug has deep roots in Minnesota and has been a part of the creation of eight books featuring his photography.  Prairie, Lake, Forest: Minnesota’s State Parks was a 2011 MNBA Finalist and Barns of Minnesota was a Finalist in 2006.

Ohman has captured the varied essence of the state and has created several photographic series on such subjects as cabins, barns and schoolhouses. In his presentation Vanishing Landmarks he’ll explore the back roads and small towns. We’ll hear the stories and history of Minnesota through historic buildings that are quickly disappearing. Doug will share his own experiences visiting many of these sites from Minnesota’s Oldest Courthouse to the last Civil War recruiting station.

 Along with being an award-winning photographer, Doug Ohman is an author, storyteller, and popular public speaker. His work has been widely published in books, calendars, and numerous state and national magazines. Over the past seven years, Ohman has been working with the Minnesota Historical Society on the popular book series, “Minnesota Byways,” which includes Ohman’s exquisite photographs, coupled with texts by some of Minnesota finest authors, on the state’s vanishing historic sites—churches, barns, courthouses, schoolhouses, cabins, and libraries.

Ohman was born and raised in Anoka, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in history and geography. Before turning to full-time photography, he worked as the director of operations at the Mall of America’s Camp Snoopy. He now makes a living through landscape and historical photography, traveling thousands of miles each year to document his subjects, while at the same time making regular stops at more than 30 art fairs and festivals around the state.

 The SELCO Winter Author Tour project is made possible with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the people of Minnesota for Library Legacy activities.

 For more information call 507-356-8558 or email pipl@selco.info.

Saturday’s Barn Tour is cancelled due to the pending snow storm. We hope to reschedule it for for sometime in March or April, so stay tuned!