Finntown map

In the early 1900s until the 1960s, Sunset Park Brooklyn had up to 20,000 Finns in the neighborhood surrounding the Park. Finnish could be heard on the street. Finnish businesses served the community: Imatra Hall, the Socialist Hall, churches, restaurants, saunas, tailor, you name it. The Finns built and lived in the coops which were the first coop buildings in the United States. They pre-dated the coop laws in New York or the USA.

Robert Alan Saasto, Esq., active in the Finnish American community, was born in one of the more than 30 Finn co-ops built by the Finnish carpenters, who chipped in to build these four story magnificent buildings in order to provide housing for their families. The plaques on the walls of Alku 1 and Toinen inspired him to embark on a project to get plaques on all the Finn co-op buildings so that the contribution of these Finnish immigrants would never be forgotten. There are presently 27 plaques at the entrances to these buildings where once Finns predominated. The Finns may be gone, but the plaques remain as reminders of their unique contribution to the American society.

Find the best way for you to explore the map!

Web-app

The web app is so called responsive: you are able to use it on the handheld device: smart phone or tablet, on laptop and on info screen. The smart phone is priority way of using the web app.

One is able to enlarge the map on the smart phone screen by clicking the icon with an arrow on the left side of the map interface. 

The user location will be shown by clicking the locate icon on the right side of the map interface. 

There are multiple options to access the web app. Embedded map or a link on the websites, QR-codes to scan from banners and posters, typing the short link of the map.

Nomadi app - App Store and Google Play

Free Nomadi app is available on App Store and Google Play. Nomadi suggests the theme maps near to you and includes a few thousand theme map options to choose. 

News articles

Imatra Hall has been there for Finns through hard and happy times.
The goal is to keep the association alive, continuing its activities, cherishing the common heritage and traditions of American Finns.
New Yorkin Uutiset
September 10th 1991

President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö was impressed by the excellent Finnish workmanship.
Over 100 years old buildings in Finntown, still in great condition. 
Amerikan Uutiset - News in English
Robert A. Saasto, Esq. 
Brooklyn, NY

Finnish immigrants were the pioneers of the cooperative ownership concept.
Buildings Alku 1 and Alku 2 were officially approved as historic sites by National Registry of Historic Places.
Amerikan Uutiset April 24th 2019
Robert A. Saasto, Esq.
Brooklyn, NY

The ultimate plan is to secure recognition of cooperative ownership as Finnish invention in USA.
Commemorative plaques on the walls of Finn coop buildings.
Amerikan Uutiset June 5th 2019
Mikko Koskinen
Brooklyn, NY

FFN Chapter Members Visit Finntown. Contribution of the Finnish immigrants will be remembered, even if the Finns are gone from the neighbourhood.
Finlandia Street sign and plaques on the coop buildings take care of that.
Amerikan Uutiset - News in English
Robert A. Saasto, Esq.
Brooklyn, NY

Honorary Consults of Finland visiting Finntown. First Finnish co ops of New York were far superior than standard houses in USA of that time.
High ceilings and ice boxes gave some everyday luxury. 
Amerikan Uutiset - News in English
Robert A. Saasto, Esq.
New York, NY

Hard and passionate work of Robert A.
Saasto was awarded with Order of the Lion of Finland.
Son and grandson of Finnish immigrants is keeping alive the valuable history of Finntown, Brooklyn.
Amerikan Uutiset - News in English

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