How Saunas Came to the U.S.: A History Rooted in Culture, Community & Connection

For thousands of years, heat bathing has served as more than a wellness practice; it has been a place of gathering, healing, and renewal. Long before saunas became a modern symbol of relaxation or recovery, they were an essential part of daily life, especially within Finnish culture. As waves of immigration reshaped North America, the sauna journeyed alongside those settlers and eventually becoming a foundational part of wellness traditions in the United States. 

Today outdoor saunas and cold plunges are experiencing a resurgence, but their presence in the U.S. is anything but new. 

Sweating Traditions Before European Arrival 

While Finnish immigrants played a major role in introducing saunas to the United States, they were not the first people in North America to use heat as a form of ritual and restoration. Indigenous communities across the continent practiced ceremonial sweat lodges for thousands of years, using heat and steam as a way to heal, reflect, and connect spiritually and communally. 

Much like the Finnish sauna, sweat lodges were places of renewal; used for purification, ceremony, and collective wellbeing rather than luxury or leisure (Mose, 2003). These practices underscore a shared human understanding: intentional heat can restore both body and mind.

1638: New Sweden and the Roots of Sauna Architecture in America 

The earliest documented Finnish presence in what would become the United States dates back to the 17th century. As early as 1638, Finnish settlers arrived as part of the New Sweden colony along the Delaware River. These settlers are widely credited with introducing log building techniques to North America, a construction method that later became synonymous with frontier life (Swedish Colonial Society, n.d., Van Weslager, C. A. (1952). Log structures in New Sweden during the 17th century. Delaware History, 5, 77–95.). 

These same log-building traditions laid the groundwork for saunas, or smoke saunas, which would later appear across the American frontier. The simple, durable structures mirrored the saunas of Finland and emphasized function, warmth, and resilience; values still reflected in modern outdoor sauna design today.

Finnish Immigration and the Expansion of Sauna Culture 

Large scale Finnish immigration to the United States accelerated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Economic hardship, political pressure under Russian rule, and labor recruitment efforts in the U.S. pushed many Finns to seek opportunity abroad (Library of Congress, n.d.; Finland Abroad, n.d.). and settle in regions with climates similar to Finland, including Minnesota, Michigan, and Alaska. On Finnish farmsteads, the sauna was often the first structure built and used not only for bathing, but for childbirth, healing, food preparation, and family gatherings (Kaups, 1976; Lockwood, 1977). 

In these communities, the sauna became a cornerstone of Finnish American identity, serving as a physical and cultural anchor in an unfamiliar land. 

Minnesota: The Heart of Finnish American Sauna Life 

Nowhere is the legacy of Finnish sauna culture more visible than in Minnesota. Historical records and preserved sauna sites show how deeply integrated saunas were in daily life. Structures like the Barberg–Selvälä–Salmonson Sauna in Cokato stand as reminders that saunas were not recreational add-ons, they were essential (Minnesota Historical Society, n.d.). 

Local newspapers and historical accounts continue to document how sauna traditions shaped social life, wellness practices, and community bonds throughout the Midwest (DasselCokato-Cokato Enterprise Dispatch, 2025). 

From Necessity to Modern Wellness 

Over time, as indoor plumbing and modern housing became more common, saunas transitioned from necessity to intention. Yet their purpose remained the same: to slow down, reset, and reconnect. Today’s outdoor saunas echo those early designs; they’re crafted from natural wood, grounded in nature, and designed for shared experience. Modern interpretations like barrel saunas, cabin saunas, and backyard sauna kits, draw directly from centurild principles while fitting seamlessly into contemporary lifestyles. 

Redwood Outdoors’ collection of outdoor saunas reflects this lineage, blending traditional inspiration with durable materials and thoughtful craftsmanship designed for modern homes and climates. 

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