Finnish Sauna (Virginia, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Finnish Sauna
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The Finnish Sauna viewed from the south
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 105 S. 1st Street, Virginia, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1912 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004360 |
| Added to NRHP | August 26, 1980 |
The Finnish Sauna was a special public bathhouse in Virginia, Minnesota, USA. It opened around 1912. It helped Finnish Americans living in the city keep up their traditional Finnish sauna customs. This building is important because it shows how much Finnish American culture influenced the Iron Range area. It also shows how businesses helped keep these traditions alive. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
About the Building
The Finnish Sauna building has two stories and is made of brick. It is about 25 feet wide and 100 feet long. The front of the building has a door that is not in the middle. There are also four windows, two on each floor. The outside bricks are painted. The building has a flat roof that slopes down towards the back.
History of the Sauna
Virginia's Finnish Sauna first opened around 1912. Many Finnish immigrants had moved to Minnesota's Iron Range. They came to work in the local mines.
Why Saunas Were Important
Many Finnish Americans wanted to keep their sauna traditions alive. But not everyone had a private sauna at home. So, clever Finnish Americans started opening public saunas in many towns on the Iron Range. These saunas were more than just places to get clean. They were also important social centers for Finnish Americans. People would meet there, just like others might meet at a coffee shop or a bowling alley.
The Sauna's Later Years
By the 1950s, more and more homes had their own saunas. This caused most public saunas on the Iron Range to close down. However, the Virginia sauna stayed open longer. Its owners knew the building was historically important. Also, many older people and mine workers still used it as a social spot. The sauna was still open in 1980 when it was listed as a historic place. It has since closed its doors.
