In 1902, Matti Finnila (Finnish spelling: Finnilä) – born August 23, 1885 –, the future founder of Finnila's Finnish Baths, immigrated from Kalajoki, Finland to Los Angeles, California. In Los Angeles, Matti Finnila learned the skill of bricklaying. In 1906, the San Francisco earthquake inspired Matti Finnila to move to San Francisco, to help rebuild the city.