Kaleva Historical Society
Kaleva Historical Society
Kaleva Historical Society
(231) 362-2749
Bottle House Makes Finnish Newscast!
August 2024 - Click to View
2024 Christmas Holiday
Lighting up Kaleva
Kaleva's ChristmasMarketplace
Sunday, December 8 - 12pm - 4pm
Enjoy the holiday spirit while you shop Kaleva to fill your gift list for the holidays. Start at the kaleva Art Gallery for unique handmade gfts. Explore the Bottle House decorated and filled with Finnish history... Click here for more information.
Taste of Finland at The Bottle House
Saturday, December 14 - 12pm - 4pm
Traditional Finnish foods like panukkuku, nissua, and other delicacies will be served. The museum will be decorated in holiday style with touches from Finland like the Finnish Heaven. Don't miss this cultural event at the famous house made out of 60,000 pop bottles.
Winter Solstice Maple Grove Cemetery
Saturday, December 21 @ 4pm
For more than 25 years the Kaleva Cemetery has been lighted by hundreds of luminaries on the Winter Solstice. Based on a Finnish custom of visiting loved ones who have passed on Christmas Eve, in Kaleva the graves are lighted on the longest night, Dec 21. People from far and near assemble the candles starting at 4 pm on Kaleva St., across from the Maple Grove Cemetery. The luminaries are placed on the graves and by nightfall the scene is breathtaking. Come to help or to experience this beautiful sight.
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In 1969 the Kaleva Historical Society (KHS) was formed by members of the community that wanted to preserve the heritage and history of family, church, and community.
Around 1900 when the first Finnish families moved to Kaleva they arrived to pine stumps and blow sand. Many that could afford to cut their loses and return to their homes did, but those who could not leave made the best of the what they had. By treasuring family, church and community and with a bit of SISU (Finnish for strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity) the founding families of Kaleva worked hard to persevere and erect a town from nothing. The first Historical Museum was housed in a room of the former Kaleva Jr. High School.
From that proud heritage came the group of people who formed the Kaleva Historical Society.
We hope you enjoy learning more about Kaleva Michigan.
To Join
please print and fill out our membership section on the form and send it to the address below.
To Donate
please print and fill out our donation section on the form and send it to the address below.
Make checks payable to the "Kaleva Historical Society".
14551 Wouski Ave.
Box 252
Kaleva MI 49645
Printable Form
Welcome to
Kaleva Historical Society
Kaleva - A Finnish Community in the heart of Manistee County.
In 1969 the Kaleva Historical Society (KHS) was formed by members of the community that wanted to preserve the heritage and history of family, church, and community.
Around 1900 when the first Finnish families moved to Kaleva they arrived to pine stumps and blow sand. Many that could afford to cut their losses and return to their homes did, but those who could not leave made the best of the what they had. By treasuring family, church and community and with a bit of SISU (Finnish for strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity) the founding families of Kaleva worked hard to persevere and erect a town from nothing.
From that proud heritage came the group of people who formed the Kaleva Historical Society. We hope you enjoy learning about our town, our history and our commitment to preserving the history of Kaleva, Michigan.
Get Here
Join the K.H.S.
We always welcome new members at the Kaleva Historical Society.
If you are interested in membership, click here.
We also accept donations to help continue our projects and raise funds to maintain our sites throughout Kaleva, Michigan.
Did you know?
Sauna forms a great part of Finland's heritage and culture. It is estimated that there are over 2 million saunas, which averages one per household.
While we don't have that many in Michigan - we do have the highest population of Finnish Americans.
Read about our Sauna Project here.
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