From Finlandia University to Finlandia Foundation National: The Legacy of the Finnish American Heritage Center
Written By:
Minea Herwitz
Did you know there used to be a Finnish university in Hancock, Michigan? For more than a century, Finlandia University stood as the longest surviving educational institution in the U.S. founded by Finnish immigrants. Established on September 8, 1896, as Suomi College, the school offered an education rooted in Finnish culture and Lutheran traditions. It welcomed thousands of students over its lifetime, evolving into a four-year liberal arts university known as Finlandia University.
Located in Michigan’s Copper Country, where large numbers of Finnish immigrants arrived in the 1880s to work in the copper and lumber industries, the university became both an academic hub and a cultural anchor. For generations, it played a vital role in preserving Finnish-American heritage in the United States.
The Closing of Finlandia University
On March 2, 2023, Finlandia University announced that it would not enroll students for the 2023–2024 academic year, citing financial challenges and declining enrollment. This marked the closure of the last remaining institution of higher learning in North America founded by Finns—a significant moment in both Finnish-American and American educational history.
While the closure ended Finlandia University’s era as an academic institution, it also raised urgent questions about the future of its most important cultural assets: the Finnish American Heritage Center, the Finnish American Reporter, the Finnish American Folk School, the Finlandia Art Gallery, North Wind Books, and the invaluable historical archives and artifacts housed in Hancock.
Finlandia Foundation National Steps In
Recognizing the risk of losing this irreplaceable cultural home, Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) acted quickly. On June 15, 2023, FFN’s offer to purchase the buildings and assume responsibility for the university’s cultural assets was accepted.
Through its nationwide “Saving Finland in America” campaign, more than 900 donors across the United States came together to raise $5 million. This remarkable collective effort—recognized internationally, including by organizations in Finland—ensured that the Finnish American Heritage Center and its archives remain preserved for future generations.
“This is a positive outcome for what could have been an unacceptable fate for these precious materials, programs and resources,” said Anne-Mari Paster, FFN president. “This marks not the end, but the beginning of a new and meaningful project. We have our work to do in caring for these heritage items and planning for their future. It is absolutely compatible with why Finlandia Foundation was founded 70 years ago. We are here to preserve our roots in Finland, and at the same time build on that connection with the current and future generations. We consider this new purpose an honor and duty.”
What Continues Today
While Finlandia University has closed, its cultural legacy lives on through the programs and institutions now cared for by Finlandia Foundation National:
- Finnish American Heritage Center – the heart of Finnish-American culture in Hancock, Michigan, with extensive archives and artifacts.
- Finnish American Reporter – published since 1986, the largest Finnish-American newspaper in North America.
- Finnish American Folk School – preserving and teaching traditional Finnish arts, crafts, and music.
- Finlandia Art Gallery – showcasing work rooted in Finnish and Nordic heritage.
- North Wind Books – a specialty bookstore featuring Finnish and Nordic literature and culture.
- Historical archives and War Museum – safeguarding the stories and records of Finnish immigrants and their descendants.
A Legacy Preserved
The closure of Finlandia University marked the end of a chapter, but it did not mean the end of its cultural mission. Thanks to Finlandia Foundation National and the generosity of hundreds of donors, the Finnish American Heritage Center and its many programs remain a vibrant home for Finnish-American heritage, education, and community.
Today, Finlandia Foundation National serves as the steward of this legacy, ensuring that the history, traditions, and cultural contributions of Finnish Americans will be preserved and shared for generations to come.
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