The story of Forssa began in the Spinning Mill Area. The Swedish-born Axel Wahren founded the spinning mill in 1847. It grew rapidly into Forssa Company with mills for spinning, dyeing, weaving and printing. Soon Forssa became one of the leading industrial spots in Finland.
Nowadays Spinning Mill Area hosts museums, library, gift shop and cafés for visitors and serves locals as cultural centre and a place for education ranging from preschool to art education and university of applied sciences.