History/Story:

In the basement of the Royal Palms Hotel. This location is north of Burnside in Old Town/Chinatown.

Built around 1914 it is said to be one of Portland’s first facilities to employ and accept African-American guests during and post-World War II, offering a place of transitional housing for the homeless and mentally ill for approximately 20 years until 2020. At this time, there are no details about the Finnish Public Steam Baths however, some people who did participate in this locale state that the entrance was on the side of the building. You went downstairs where someone at a desk would take your money if you wanted to take your stuff and lock it up. It was very small, no private rooms just a steam room and showers.

Research:

• Listed in the Polk’s Business Directory, page 2277, 1940 – listed as Finish Steam Baths 304 NW Flanders

• The Royal Palms Hotel still exists as a hotel of sorts. It now serves low-income residents in a mental health program. The structure was built in 1913.

• tinygogo: An historical sketch, steam baths in Portland, Oregon circa 1956 https://tinygogo.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-historic-steam-baths-of-portland.html

• Per book by David Grant Kohl, A Curious and Peculiar Peoples, “Finnish Baths was under the Seamen’s Center, NW 3rd. Nothing has been verified about this location at this time.”