A Guide to Finland-related Activities and Resources in Minnesota

Finnish immigrants bring the sauna to Minnesota

Sauna has been practiced for centuries in Finland, and Finnish immigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries did not want to leave sauna behind. Such was the case with the Barberg-Selvälä-Salmonson sauna in Cokato, Minnesota — the oldest savusauna, or smoke sauna, still existing in Minnesota and likely in the United States.

LEARN + SHARE

Learn. Share. Collaborate! Discover Finnish cooking, language, arts and music, and Finland’s famous sauna culture. Suggest links for our curated lists.

LANGUAGE & STUDY ABROAD

Finnish is an official language of Finland but is also spoken in Scandinavia, Russia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Learn more about Suomen kieli and its various dialects, and the opportunities there are to study the language and Finn culture in Finland!

GENEALOGY RESOURCES

Are you Finnish? Do you want to be Finnish? Explore your family history with these helpful guides to locate the Finn in you!

ORGANIZATIONS + NETWORKING

Connect to Finnish and Finnish-American organizations in Minnesota dedicated to building understanding and links between the people of Minnesota, USA and Finland.

“FINN FACTS”

Information, stories and fun facts about Finnish and Finnish American history, culture and life in Minnesota, Finland and communities around the world.