Featured Destination Story

Hanka Homestead Finnish Museum

Baraga MI, MI

The Hanka Homestead Finnish Museum in L'Anse, Michigan, offers a unique window into the lives of Finnish immigrants who settled in the Upper Peninsula in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Situated on 40 acres of land, the museum comprises eight original buildings, including a farmhouse, sauna, barn, and smokehouse, each filled with artifacts and furnishings that depict the daily life of a Finnish family during that era. Visitors can step back in time and experience the challenges and triumphs of homesteading in a remote and rugged environment.

As visitors explore the homestead, they will encounter various tools, implements, and household items that were essential for survival in the wilderness. The museum's knowledgeable guides provide insights into the traditions, customs, and resourcefulness of the Finnish immigrants, who brought with them a unique set of skills and knowledge that allowed them to thrive in this new land. The guides share stories of the Hanka family, who homesteaded the property in 1896, and other Finnish families who settled in the area.