This tour is full. Add your name to a waiting list by contacting Vesterheim Coordinator of Tours to Norway Rolf Svanoe at 563-382-9681 or NorwayTours@vesterheim.org. The second tour on April 25 still has opening – find out more here.
To close out the Vesterheim exhibit, Herbjørn Gausta, 1854-1924, join Vesterheim on fascinating historical day trips around southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa to explore Gausta’s life and art in the actual places he lived, studied, and worked!
During the first tour, on April 18, we’ll explore Harmony, Minnesota, the place the Gausta family settled after immigration. We will visit the church and cemetery where Gausta is buried. We will also visit the family farmstead and travel to several churches to see Gausta altar paintings, including Elstad, North Prairie, Highland Prairie, Blackhammer Faith, and Riceford. We will stop for lunch at the Norseland Cafe in Rushford. The tour begins and ends at Vesterheim in Decorah.
The second day-trip, on April 25, begins with a tour the Gausta’s art in Vesterheim’s collection. Then we head to the Washington Prairie Parsonage outside Decorah where we will view the room Gausta lived in while a student at Luther College and see sketches he drew on the walls. Next, we will visit Luther College where we have special access to their collection of Gausta’s art and papers. After lunch in the college cafeteria, we will travel to area Iowa churches that house Gausta’s altar paintings – Orleans, Saude, Jerico, and New Hampton. The tour begins and ends at Vesterheim in Decorah.
The cost for each tour is $60 with a $5 discount for Vesterheim members.
