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Discover Finnish America: Minneapolis to Cokato
Step aboard for a lively journey through the oldest continuously active Finnish American community in the United States!
Long before Finnish immigrants came to work in America’s copper and iron mines, steel mills, docks and forests, they were building new lives on homesteads around Cokato, Minnesota—just 50 miles west of Minneapolis.
Departing from the Hilton Minneapolis, this guided bus tour explores the urban and rural communities that shaped Finnish American life in Minnesota.
History Comes to Life
Your guide is Harvey Barberg—a deeply knowledgeable local historian with personal roots in both Minneapolis and rural Cokato. Harvey knows the people, places and stories that make this community so remarkable, and he’ll bring that history to life throughout the day.
The tour includes five extended stops at historic and contemporary Finnish American sites, offering a fascinating look at how Finnish traditions took root in Minnesota—and how they continue today.
Explore Historic Temperance Corner
Finnish immigrants joined a Norwegian homesteading community near Cokato in 1864. There, they established farms and created a close-knit community shaped by faith, perseverance and Finnish tradition.
At the same time, Finnish immigrants were building a vibrant urban community in Minneapolis. Employment opportunities drew newcomers into the city, where Finnish neighborhoods grew while remaining closely connected to the rural community around Cokato.
In 1895, local farmers created their own secular gathering place, which became known as Temperance Corner. Today, this extraordinary historic site includes:
- The Temperance Hall, built in 1896 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- An 1865 log cabin
- An 1868 sauna—the first Finnish sauna built in Minnesota and still standing today
- An 1891 schoolhouse
These buildings have been lovingly preserved by the Cokato Finnish American Historical Society.
And because no Finnish festival adventure should go without good food, your visit to Temperance Corner includes a catered pasty lunch!
From Historic Churches to Modern Sauna Culture
The tour also visits the Cokato Museum, where exhibits share the broader Nordic story of the region.
At Annandale’s open-air museum, you’ll visit the Old Tin Church, a former Laestadian Lutheran church that reflects the community’s strong religious roots.
But this tour isn’t only about the past. Finnish American culture remains alive and active throughout the region. A visit to Sauna Supply, operated by a new generation of young Finnish Americans, offers a look at how Finnish heritage is being carried forward—and reimagined for the 21st century.
Come hungry for history, Finnish culture and, of course, pasties!
Ready to Join Us?
Seats are limited, so don’t wait to reserve your place on this special FinnFest experience.
Registration closes September 4, 2026.
The Cokato Finnish American Historical Society reserves the right to cancel the tour if fewer than 25 people register.