The Finnish Folk Art Museum is located on the grounds of the Pasadena Museum of History in Pasadena, California. The only museum of its type in the United States, it was created in 1974 by Yrjö Alfred Paloheimo, a native of Finland, who was the husband of Leonora “Babsie” Curtin.[2]
Paloheimo served as Finland's consular officer in Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. For 17 years, Finland's consulate offices were located in the mansion. Paloheimo founded the Finlandia Foundation and established Järvenpää, Finland, as Pasadena's sister city in that country.[3] He and his wife also adopted four Finnish children who were reared on the Fenyes Estate.[4]
The Swiss chalet-like structure, constructed of redwood with a stone roof, was built in 1910 as a garage for Arthur Fleming's Wigmore Estate. Fleming's architect, Frederick Roehrig, also designed portions of the Green Hotel in Pasadena. In 1949 Paloheimo learned that the unusual structure was for sale, and moved it onto the grounds of the Fenyes Estate to serve as a folk art museum, guest house, and sauna. Paloheimo filled the building with farmhouse furnishings he collected from several provinces in Finland, and did much of the stone work and gardening himself.[5] The museum have large areas of lawn, with the beautiful Fenyes Mansion as a background, are ideal for wandering.[6]
Inside the museum, a large living room called a “Tupa” is furnished with early 19th Century Finnish peasant furniture and objects. Visitors may see an open hearth or “Takka” used for heating and cooking, poles and overhead racks called “Leipävartaat” for storing rye sourdough bread, and “Tuoli” or chairs hand-carved by farmers as bridal gifts to their daughters, as well as many other Finnish hand-made items.[7]
The Finnish Folk Art Museum and Finlandia Gardens were officially dedicated in 1974. Currently maintained by the Pasadena Museum of History, tours of the folk art museum are often included in Feynes Estate tours[8]
^"Pasadena Museum of History". Pasadena Museum of History. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
^. Finlandia Foundation National. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
^Fenyes Mansion Docent Manual. Pasadena Museum of History. March 2008. pp. 40–41.
^Fenyes Mansion Docent Manual. Pasadena Museum of History. March 2008. pp. 39–40.
^. infoblogscat.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
^Saraii, Jon L (2003). Black Ties and Miners' Boots: Inventing Finnish-American Philanthropy: A History of Finlandia Foundation. Finlandia Foundation.
^"Pasadena Museum of History". Pasadena Museum of History. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
January 01, 1970
finnish, folk, museum, located, grounds, pasadena, museum, history, pasadena, california, only, museum, type, united, states, created, 1974, yrjö, alfred, paloheimo, native, finland, husband, leonora, babsie, curtin, national, register, historic, placesexterio. The Finnish Folk Art Museum is located on the grounds of the Pasadena Museum of History in Pasadena California The only museum of its type in the United States it was created in 1974 by Yrjo Alfred Paloheimo a native of Finland who was the husband of Leonora Babsie Curtin 2 The Finnish Folk Art MuseumU S National Register of Historic PlacesExterior of the MuseumShow map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesLocation160 170 N Orange Grove Blvd Pasadena CaliforniaCoordinates34 8 56 N 118 9 37 W 34 14889 N 118 16028 W 34 14889 118 16028Area2 6 acres 1 1 ha Built1910 1910 ArchitectFrederick RoehrigArchitectural styleSwiss ChaletNRHP reference No 85001983 1 Added to NRHPSeptember 5 1985 Paloheimo served as Finland s consular officer in Southern California Arizona and New Mexico For 17 years Finland s consulate offices were located in the mansion Paloheimo founded the Finlandia Foundation and established Jarvenpaa Finland as Pasadena s sister city in that country 3 He and his wife also adopted four Finnish children who were reared on the Fenyes Estate 4 The Swiss chalet like structure constructed of redwood with a stone roof was built in 1910 as a garage for Arthur Fleming s Wigmore Estate Fleming s architect Frederick Roehrig also designed portions of the Green Hotel in Pasadena In 1949 Paloheimo learned that the unusual structure was for sale and moved it onto the grounds of the Fenyes Estate to serve as a folk art museum guest house and sauna Paloheimo filled the building with farmhouse furnishings he collected from several provinces in Finland and did much of the stone work and gardening himself 5 The museum have large areas of lawn with the beautiful Fenyes Mansion as a background are ideal for wandering 6 Inside the museum a large living room called a Tupa is furnished with early 19th Century Finnish peasant furniture and objects Visitors may see an open hearth or Takka used for heating and cooking poles and overhead racks called Leipavartaat for storing rye sourdough bread and Tuoli or chairs hand carved by farmers as bridal gifts to their daughters as well as many other Finnish hand made items 7 The Finnish Folk Art Museum and Finlandia Gardens were officially dedicated in 1974 Currently maintained by the Pasadena Museum of History tours of the folk art museum are often included in Feynes Estate tours 8 References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Pasadena Museum of History Pasadena Museum of History Retrieved May 30 2015 Finlandia Foundation National Finlandia Foundation National Archived from the original on August 22 2015 Retrieved June 8 2015 Fenyes Mansion Docent Manual Pasadena Museum of History March 2008 pp 40 41 Fenyes Mansion Docent Manual Pasadena Museum of History March 2008 pp 39 40 Finnish Folk Art Museum infoblogscat blogspot com Archived from the original on 16 September 2022 Retrieved 2022 09 16 Saraii Jon L 2003 Black Ties and Miners Boots Inventing Finnish American Philanthropy A History of Finlandia Foundation Finlandia Foundation Pasadena Museum of History Pasadena Museum of History Retrieved June 9 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Finnish Folk Art Museum amp oldid 1218609142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
