Elderhostel
The Heritage of Finland
A Finnish American Experience
Finlandia University, Hancock, Michigan
July 27 - August 2, 2008
our host university
being greeted by Ross Rinkinen, the Program Coordinator
Gary Kaunonen introduces us to Finnish life in America
we visit the Hanka Homestead
Gary Kaunonen shows us a tool used for bending skis
More Photos of the Hanka Homestead
Melvin Kangas introduces us to Finnish music
and plays the kantele
Video of Melvin playing the kantele
Anna Leppanen tells us about the Finnish language
and Lauri Anderson tells us about the greatest Finnish-American poet, himself
we board the Keweenaw Star
for a cruise of the Portage lake and canal
the Houghton - Hancock bridge
President Johnson of Finlandia
University
stopped by to greet us during one of our meals in the university dining hall
we toured Quincy copper mine
were transported into the mine
and viewed the underground
More Photos of the Quincy Mine
More Photos of the Quincy Smelter
we visited the Finnish American Heritage Center
saw Finnish dancing
and for the Sibelius Academy Music Festival
a concert with Melis Jaatinen,
mezzosoprano (right)
and Maija Väisänen, piano (left)
and on the following night,
Joonas Ahonen, playing Sibelius and Charles Ives
also a choral group
Beth Viktanen presented more about Finnish-American authors
and Melvin Kangas played more music on the kantele
Video of one, two, three, four
on the final day we went North on the Keweenaw Peninsula
saw the gauge of the annual snowfall
had our farewell dinner at the Harbor Haus restaurant in Copper Harbor
and attended the final Sibelius Academy Music Festival concert
at St. Peters by the Sea
with Jukka Ojala, accordionist
and Kaisa Koivula, clarinet
