A brief sauna history lesson...

 

After the American Civil War, Michigan continued its expansion by investing in various economic sectors. Everything from automotive manufacturing and assembly to logging was needed to contribute to Michigan’s growing infrastructure. At the time, mining was a new and untouched sector of the economy that needed to be prospected; Native Americans discovered an abundance of copper in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula some thousands of years ago. However, mining was no easy task, hence there was a major labor shortage that emerged. Being a miner in the late 19th and early 20th centuries meant brutally long days, back-breaking tasks, and unsafe working conditions. Michigan mining companies still needed dependable muscle to get the job done. So where did they look? Northern Europe, but particularly Finland (Suomi).

 

Later, a variety of Michigan-based industries, that included logging, mining, agriculture and manufacturing, began recruiting Finnish peoples for their strong work ethic and unbreakable spirit (SISU). Finns that arrived to the Upper and Lower Peninsulas soon realized that the harsh, yet magnificent landscape was comparable to Finland’s own geography and climate. With their new found admiration for Michigan, Finnish peoples brought with them their own set of cultural norms and traditions, including sauna. Saunas that were built would allow workers and other immigrants to bathe in developing areas of Michigan that lacked plumbing and electricity. Additionally, saunas would prove vital during the cold and desolate winter months when bathing was much more difficult.

 

Today, a large percentage of people in Michigan are direct descendants of the same Finnish immigrants that once worked in the old mines, forests, and factories. Thanks to them, many cabins and cottages across Michigan are equipped with saunas, making this Finnish tradition ubiquitous to the Superior State. 

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