First building of Santa Claus Village, Roosevelt Cottage, turns 75! Join the celebration on 13th June 2025!
The oldest building in Santa Claus Village, the iconic Roosevelt Cottage, will celebrate its 75th anniversary in June. The anniversary year will kick off with a public event on Friday, 13 June.
The cottage was built in the summer of 1950 in honor of the visit of Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt(1933–1945). Over the decades, it has become not only an important part of the Village’s history, but also a symbol of international friendship and the message of peace. Santa Claus Village has since developed into one of Northern Europe’s best-known tourist destinations.
Eleanor Roosevelt was known for her humanitarian work and was a respected advocate for women’s rights and equality. She also played a key role in UNRRA, the predecessor of UNICEF. Rovaniemi had suffered great destruction during World War II, and reconstruction in Lapland progressed slowly — nearly everything had been destroyed. In spring 1950, Roosevelt expressed her desire to learn about Finland’s post-war reconstruction efforts as well as child welfare and healthcare. Rovaniemi was chosen as the main destination of her trip — and the rest is history.
Roosevelt also wished to visit the Arctic Circle. At that time, there were no buildings on the current site of Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, so the hosts from Rovaniemi decided to build a stylish and graceful cottage for their distinguished guest. The building was constructed in an almost miraculous two weeks. On a sunny early summer day, 11 June 1950, a smiling Mrs Roosevelt visited the cottage, which would later be named in her honour. Among those welcoming her at the Arctic Circle were the city leaders of Rovaniemi, and the atmosphere was enhanced by the now-legendary choir Lapin Lauluveikot.
Today, the cottage houses a shop selling Lappish souvenirs, and the nearby information boards tell visitors crossing the Arctic Circle about Eleanor Roosevelt’s visit and the wider history of the cottage over its 75-year existence.
Friday 13.06.2025 Celebration Programme (subject to change):
- 10:00 Welcome speeches
- 10:30 Lapin Lauluveikot choir performance
Location: Roosevelt Cottage, Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Napapiiri – Note: the cottage is located in Santa Claus Village, right next to Santa Claus’ Main Post Office.
Read more about the history of Roosevelt Cottage:
https://santaclausvillage.info/info-and-tips/roosevelt-cottage/