Hancock in Houghton County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The First Finnish Newspaper in America

The First Finnish Newspaper Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

1. The First Finnish Newspaper Marker

Inscription. The first Finnish newspaper in America was the “Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti,” published by A. J. Muikku in Hancock on 14 April 1876. It was printed at the northwest corner of Quincy and Reservation Streets at the offices of the North Western Mining Journal, because they had a press with the letters ä and ö. The paper's existence was short-lived. Only 11½ issues were printed and only about 300 people subscribed. Muikku died in 1877.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 14, 1876.

Location. 47° 7.63′ N, 88° 34.743′ W. Marker is in Hancock, Michigan, in Houghton County. Marker is at the intersection of Quincy Street and Reservation Street, on the right when traveling west on Quincy Street. Marker is a round composite plaque, mounted directly on the sidewalk, adjacent to the building entrance, at the northwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Quincy Street, Hancock MI 49930, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 321 Quincy Street (approx. ¼ mile away); Hancock / Town Hall and Fire Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); The Finnish American National Historical Archive & Museum (approx. 0.4 miles away); Industry

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Copper Range Railroad Depot 1899 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Main / Suomi College (approx. half a mile away); Growth and Change (approx. half a mile away); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hancock.

Also see . . . The Finns in America. During the 1860s and 70s Finnish settlers emigrated to Michigan mining communities including Calumet, Hancock, Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee and Ironwood. Between 1870 and 1920, approximately 340,000 Finns immigrated to the United States. Transmitting the Finnish cultural heritage to the next generation was considered a high priority among Finnish-Americans. The first Finnish-American newspaper, Amerikan Suomalainen Lehti (America's Finnish Newspaper) was published by Antti Muikku in Hancock, Michigan, 1876, the first of several hundred Finnish-American papers. (Submitted on August 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The First Finnish Newspaper Marker (<i>tall view; marker near building corner entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

2. The First Finnish Newspaper Marker (tall view; marker near building corner entrance)

The First Finnish Newspaper Marker (<i>wide view; marker visible on sidewalk</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

3. The First Finnish Newspaper Marker (wide view; marker visible on sidewalk)

Quincy & Reservation Building (<i>view of buliding front; looking straight up from marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

4. Quincy & Reservation Building (view of buliding front; looking straight up from marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 194 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 30, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.