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November 2023 by Edwin “Bill” Raisanen
The Hanka Homestead Finnish Museum is located on its original site in Askel, Michigan and was homesteaded in 1896 by the Finnish immigrant family headed by Herman Hanka. The farm is a eight-building, 40 acre outdoor/open door museum that tells the story of how immigrant families, using their skills, knowledge, and background, were able to survive and thrive in the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan despite setbacks and minimal resources. In a world where most people are far removed from their historical foundations, it provides a window into what people had to do to make a life for them, and enriches our understanding of the lives of many of our forebears.The Homestead relates the story of how events at a national level (the Homestead Act of 1862) affected the lives and opportunities available for ordinary people of many nationalities, in this instance the Finnish immigrant and the immigrant family of Herman Hanka. The Hanka story also tells about the connection between the copper mines, the miners and the conditions in the mines, and what happened to those miners who were injured on the job.The Hanka Homestead was restored beginning in the early 1980's by volunteers under the leadership of Superior Restorations, Alan Pape, President; all of whom had the insight to realize that this “diamond in the rough” would be invaluable for informing future generations of life and living conditions in the era of the 1920’s.The museum opened to the public in 1985 and is a cooperating Heritage Site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. In addition, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This Homestead is one of the few historical sites in the state that has been restored on the original location with many of its original artifacts.The museum is owned and operated by the all-volunteer Hanka Homestead Finnish Museum Association.
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October 2021 by Lisa Reitz
We went to Hanka on a beautiful fall day and it was like transporting back in time. The grounds were beautiful and the volunteer guides were friendly and incredibly knowledgeable...the time spent with them was really special. All ages can have fun here! We spent about one and a half hours touring this place. It's free, but after a guided tour, you'll probably find yourself wanting to make a donation to keep the memory of this gem alive.
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October 2021 by Daisy Tran
We had a great visit. The volunteers were wonderful!
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September 2021 by Mark Delph
Awesome New Finland experience. Oscar, the guide who greeted us, is a lifelong local, who lived his life a mile from the museum. As a Finish-American, he also shared cultural and historical info. around community, construction, farming, logging and mining. He also bought to life what it was like for immigrants to live here in the early 1900s.
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September 2021 by Joanna Prince
Beautiful place to see how the Finnish people lived. Very creative and determined people.
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August 2021 by Veronica Flower
Going back in time in an extremely special place with passionate and knowledgeable volunteers!!! Thanks to Kathleen Ernst and the Hanka Homestead volunteers for a meaningful day!
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July 2021 by james kincaid
It's a very interesting place and the men that helped us were great
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October 2020 by S O
Very interesting homestead history here.
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September 2020 by Ian Bercaw
Very interesting piece of local history!
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May 2019 by Marcie Baker
What a wonderful look at how these folks lived. The ingenuity and stamina required to survive the environment while building a home is astounding.
