Inside the Finnish American Heritage Center lies a treasure of artifacts, art, and heritage. For several weeks the Heritage Center has led guided tours of the facility, sharing not just the who, when and how, but also why Finnish American heritage continues to connect many people. Executive Director David Maki says the tour starts in the main lobby where paintings depict a scene in the Kalevala.
We want people to feel like they’re part of something significant, a part of something that’s not only obviously but perhaps distinctly Finnish. As we make our way up here to the lobby and then beyond, we’ll go into the art gallery where we often have exhibits that are Finnish connected, if not obviously Finnish. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
Further along in the lobby, the Heritage Center has three busts on display honoring individuals who left a significant mark on Finnish culture. On the other side of the lobby sit three pop-up displays explaining utopian communities Finns, and Finnish immigrants created around the world.
The tour then moves into the Finlandia Gallery that turns over various art exhibits throughout the year. And inside the Martha Wiljanen Community Hall the heritage center keeps long term exhibits. Including recently placed displays sharing the Finnish immigration story in the Copper Country
the gallery typically has about four or so exhibits per year. I do know that patrons are always craving more, so we’re hoping to see an uptick in that in the months and years ahead. But right now, the exhibits that are on display in the gallery will be there through mid-September. And then after that, it’s very exciting that we’re going to have a prominent Finnish American artist from the Northeast, Erik Aho. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
In the bottom floor the tour leads to the Price of Freedom exhibit that was donated in 2023. The exhibit explores Finland’s involvement war. Particularly in the Winter War against the Soviet Union.
With the chain of events that happened in 2023 and 24, we relocated that exhibit here to the Heritage Center. And I’m very pleased to share that it’s been on display in the exhibit space immediately adjacent to our archive. And it’s very well received. It’s very well presented. It’s really a stunning look into that chapter of Finnish American history. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
Further inside the basement lies the Finnish American archives.
We’re actually quite blessed that when it began in the 1930s, it’s been continuously growing ever since. We’re, to my knowledge, the only archive that’s still actively collecting materials from and about Finnish American history. So not only can people come here to find information about someone or something with local ties, but we’re also not only a local archive. But we’re also a regional archive, we’re a national archive, and in many ways an international archive. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
Maki adds some of the most valuable artifacts in the archives that many people may not think of at first snap a moment in time.
The is that a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s also of immeasurable value when it comes to research because it quite literally is a snapshot in time. You not only see the place and the people, but just the hidden messaging in a photo. What were they wearing? Why are they wearing it? What were they doing? Why were they doing it? The pictures answer a lot of questions, but they also lead people to ask further questions and let them dig deeper into their roots are the roots of their friends. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
The Finnish American Heritage Center will continue tours of the center through the fall on Thursdays at 11 am. Maki asks guests to please call ahead if planning to bring a large group. Self-guided tours of the facility are available anytime during opening hours. The Finnish Folk School Art Exhibit will remain on display inside the Finlandia Gallery through September 10th. Find more details online.
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