Hanka Finnish Homestead – Blog Post #16 Camping in Michigan

According to my family tree, I am 100% German. Which my husband would confirm based on my 100% bullheadedness. But I still have a full appreciation of any ancestral group in America.

Since we travel around Michigan’s UP often, Hubby and I are aware of the large Finnish population there. In fact, the UP has the largest concentration of Finnish Americans, and Finlandia University in Hancock was founded by Finns in 1896. 

On our camping trip in July, I led us to the Hanka Homestead, eighteen miles north of Baraga.

It was an interesting old Finnish homestead.

Two very friendly and knowledgeable Finlanders gave us the tour.

They let Dino walk along with us, even allowing him into the buildings.

I wish I had taken a picture of him lying on the kitchen rug, but I only got a few clips of his head.

One of our tour guides showed us this contraption.

They weren’t quite sure what it was. And I told them I would research it. Oops, I totally forgot until now. Anyone have any thoughts? 

For more information:

            On Hanka Homestead – https://www.hankahomesteadmuseum.org/about-us/

            On Finnish in Michigan’s UP – https://www.thoughtco.com/finnish-culture-of-michigans-upper-peninsula-1434523

            On Finlandia University – https://www.finlandia.edu/about/our-finnish-heritage/