Finnish American Heritage Center

09/03/2026

08/31/2026

08/26/2026

Explore our Finno-Ugric connections—wherever you are!

As we close out Hancock's year as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital, the Finnish American Folk School is offering a special series of online classes celebrating the languages, traditions, and cultures that connect the Finno-Ugric world.

Join us from home for:

🍰 Hungarian Baking: Esterházy Torta — Learn to bake an elegant Hungarian coffeehouse classic with Zingerman's Bakehouse

🧶 Estonian Roosimine Knitting — Explore a traditional Estonian inlay technique with knitwear designer Aleks Byrd.

🇫🇮 Finnish Language — Build your Finnish skills through an eight-week interactive course, with options for brand-new and continuing beginners with Language-Clubhouse.

All classes are online, so you can join us from anywhere!

Space is limited and registration deadlines are approaching. More information and registration at: FinnishAmericanFolkSchool.com.

08/26/2026

The Finnish American Reporter isn't just a newspaper—it's your newspaper. It's our newspaper.

For more than 40 years, the FAR has connected Finnish Americans and our wider community through stories, history, and culture. It exists because of its readers, and it thrives because of the people who share their photos, memories, and perspectives.

Now, those stories can reach even farther with the launch of the digital edition.

Don't worry—the print edition isn't going anywhere. You can subscribe to the print edition, the digital edition, or both, and continue supporting the publication that keeps our community connected.

Subscribe today at FinnishAmericanReporter.com.

08/26/2026

The Finno-Ugric world is a rainbow. 🌈 But quite literally, there is Mari-El, where a sacred "rainbow stone" becomes a powerful symbol for the beauty and resilience of one of Finland's closest linguistic relatives.

In the latest installment of the Finno-Ugric World Tour, Gage "Touko" Keränen explores Mari culture through conversations with artist .toht and founder Vasily Nikolaev, reflecting on language preservation, cultural resilience, and why our shared Finno-Ugric connections matter more than ever.

At Finlandia Foundation, we believe preserving Finnish heritage also means learning from the wider Finno-Ugric family, especially this special year where Hancock, Michigan, home to our Finnish American Heritage Center, is celebrated as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture.

Read the latest A Finno-Ugric World Tour on our blog: https://finlandiafoundation.org/2026/07/21/a-finno-ugric-world-tour-mari-el/

(Link in bio)

08/25/2026

Join the Finnish American Folk School and Zingerman's Bakehouse for a live online baking class in your home kitchen on Saturday, September 12th from 12-2pm ET.

Together, we’ll make Esterházy Torta, an elegant dessert that could end up being your hallmark. It’s made up of thin, soft layers of toasted walnut cake, filled with luscious vanilla and toasted walnut pastry cream, and topped with a distinctive design resembling the traditional French Napoleon pastry. The torta is a classic sold at all traditional Hungarian bakeries and coffeehouses. Join us for some time-honored Hungarian flavor!

More info + registration at www.FinnishAmericanFolkSchool.com

Why are we getting into Hungarian baking? This workshop is part of our online series exploring our Finno-Ugric cultural connections as we close out 2026, City of Hancock year as the Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital. Other workshops in this series include Estonian Roosimine Knitting and Finnish Language.

08/24/2026

UPDATE: This class has sold out. To be added to the waiting list, please email [email protected]

If you've been to our Folk School at Midsummer exhibit Finlandia Art Gallery you've seen this lovely sauna caddy by Karen Tembreull. Want to learn to make your very own? Sign up for our September workshop!

**Birch Sauna Caddy Workshop**
Saturday, September 19, 2026
9am-5pm ET (with 1 hour lunch break)
Location: Folk School Wood Shop
Skyline Commons Room 102 @ 200 Michigan St. Hancock, MI
Instructor: Karen Tembreull
Class fee: $95
Register at www.FinnishAmericanFolkSchool.com
Materials fee: $115 paid directly to instructor
Registration closes September 9 or when sold out

Questions? Call 906-370-3722 or email [email protected]

Students will learn to weave a bias rectangular shaped basket with taller ends and straight bias ri***ng. There will be an option to play with the birch to make curl designs. The driftwood handle will be sized to fit the basket and copper nugget washers and brass screws will hold the handle in place. This sweet little basket could be used as a small sauna caddy or a Keweenaw berry basket that holds about a quart. Finished dimensions are 7” long, 4.5” wide, and 4.75” tall.

Materials are all gathered and prepared by the instructor, including birch bark, driftwood hand. Fun fact: each basket requires a premium sheet of bark that is 20×22 inches! Please plan to pay the materials fee directly to the instructor by cash or check on the day of class. Online registration covers the cost of tuition only.

This class is open to adult students of all levels, no previous experience required.

08/14/2026

📣Calling all artists! Check out this call for entries into this year's Friends of Finland exhibition at Finlandia Art Gallery

Please click the link to complete this form.

08/14/2026

🇫🇮 Today, the flag of Finland flies at the Finnish American Heritage Center in remembrance of John and Pauline Kiltinen.

The Marquette, Michigan, couple's unwavering commitment to preserving Finnish-American heritage was evident through their lifelong support of the Finnish American Heritage Center and countless Finnish-American organizations. Their decades of leadership, generosity, and service left a lasting impact on our community.

Because of supporters like John and Pauline, Finlandia Foundation National reached its $3 million Saving Finland in America campaign goal in 2023, making it possible to protect, preserve, and purchase the Finnish American Heritage Center, archives, and other cultural entities, ensuring that these treasured resources would continue to tell the story of Finnish America following the closure of Finlandia University.

"To have the Finnish American Heritage Center, The Finnish American Reporter, and the archives survive is a good sign of stability in the midst of sad change. Together, we can make it happen. Let's all pitch in and do our part." — John & Pauline Kiltinen

We honor and remember John and Pauline for their extraordinary generosity, vision, and dedication. Their legacy lives on through the preservation of Finnish-American history and culture, inspiring future generations to celebrate and cherish their heritage.

🇫🇮 Kiitos, John and Pauline, for all you gave to our community. Your kindness, leadership, and love of Finnish America will never be forgotten.

Näkemiin.

https://shop.finlandiafoundation.org/collections/flag-dedication

08/13/2026

Learn a new skill from the comfort of home with an online Finnish American Folk School workshop this fall. We're offering 6 online classes in September and October that explore Finno-Ugric cultural connections as we close out 2026, Hancock Michigan's year as the Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital.

🍰ONLINE Esterházy Torta: Hungarian Walnut Cream Cake with

🧶ONLINE Roosimine Estonian Inlay Knitting with Aleks Byrd

📢ONLINE Basics of Finnish Language Courses for A0-A1 learners with

Visit www.FinnishAmericanFolkSchool.com for more info and registration