Sister Cities of Sault Ste. Marie

The St. Marys River connects Lakes Huron and Superior and forms the international border between Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, which are often referred to as Sister Cities or the Twin Soos. Connected by the 2.8-mile International Bridge, the cities have much in common, from their founding to the shared waterway, development of the shipping industry and the navigable locks linking the Great Lakes.
Soo Canada is larger, with a population of about 75,000 compared to 13,000 in Michigan’s oldest city. Beyond size, there are obvious differences between the two nations historically and culturally. But their commonality starts at the river.

“The water is why we’re all here,” says Linda Hoath, executive director of Michigan’s Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Centuries before French explorer Etienne Brule arrived in 1623, the area was a gathering place for the Ojibwa, who fished the river and called the site Baawaaating, the place of the rapids.

In 1668, Father Jacques Marquette established the first permanent mission settlement on the south side of the river and named it Sault Ste. Marie, honoring the Virgin Mary. “Sault” may have been derived from a French word for leap or jump, in reference to the 21-foot drop between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. As the fur trade and other commerce grew, so did the need for an alternative to portaging increasingly larger vessels to bypass the rapids.

Locking through

By 1855, the United States constructed the first lock, followed in 1881 by the Weitzel Lock, which was replaced in 1943 by the 800-foot-long MacArthur. The Poe Lock, completed in 1896, was rebuilt in 1968 and expanded to 1,200 feet long and 110 feet wide. A long-overdue third lock is now under construction, but is years from completion. All major shipping passes through the U.S. locks, which amounts to about 7,000 vessels and 86 million tons of cargo each season. The single Canadian lock, at 253 feet long, 51 feet wide and 44 feet deep, handles recreational traffic.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ Soo Locks Visitor Center, open May through October, explains the operation, history and importance of the locks with models and exhibits, and there’s an elevated platform for viewing the freighter traffic “locking through.” On the last Friday in June, the public is invited to walk across the locks at the Army Corps’ Engineers Day Open House.

The popular Soo Locks Boat Tours in Michigan and Ontario’s Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours offer two-hour excursions that allow you to experience being lifted and lowered by millions of gallons of water to travel between the Great Lakes.

Kyler Reattoir, harbormaster of Soo Michigan’s George Kemp Downtown Marina, says that the top attraction for boaters is cruising the engineering marvels. “It gives them a chance to poke their nose into Lake Superior. It’s very simple going through the locks. The Canadian lock is what we recommend,” he says. “It’s much faster and smaller.”

It’s also possible to paddle kayaks, canoes and paddleboards through the locks, either on your own or on guided outings. Jodi Wizauer, manager at Bird’s Eye Outfitters in Soo Michigan, says that experience is the adventure company’s most popular, and not difficult, “as long as you’ve paddled before and are comfortable being in a kayak for a length of time, it’s a blast.”

For the best view of the area, climb the Tower of History, located right behind George Kemp Downtown Marina. The tower rises 210 feet in the air, giving visitors a 360-degree view of the Sault Locks, the St. Mary’s River and more. The lower level of the tower features museum exhibits offering a local history lesson.

Soo much more

Beyond the Soo Locks, both cities offer activities and attractions for a wide range of interests throughout the year.

In Michigan

Harbormaster Reattoir recommends visiting the Museum Ship Valley Camp, a 550-foot freighter that was active on the Great Lakes from 1917 to 1966. Check out the crew’s quarters and 100 exhibits including the Edmund Fitzgerald memorial, with two lifeboats on display from the freighter that was lost with all 29 crewmembers in a Lake Superior storm in November 1975.

Bird’s Eye Outfitters’ Wizauer says the adventure company offers more than tours; it’s a destination in itself. Part retailer of silent sports gear and part café, it’s a place to grab a bite to eat, sip a smoothie, tea, coffee or adult beverage, and catch local live music. The lifelong resident is upbeat about recent changes she sees in her hometown.

“Younger people are coming and wanting to experience something outdoors-centric,” she says.

And while there are still souvenirs to be found, Wizauer sees a shift away from so many touristy stores. “There are more cool, unique, locally owned shops and artist studios. It’s been blossoming, especially after COVID.”

Tourism Director Hoath agrees: “Young people are coming back to Sault Ste. Marie, and they’re opening up businesses. People are working together to make a different community. It’s fun to watch.”

One of those new ventures is the transformation of a neglected motel into The Ash, a modern mix of boutique vacation rentals. Alekz and Jim Jorgensen based their concept on places they’ve stayed during years of travel before returning to the Upper Peninsula. The renovation resulted in half the number of rooms but more spacious accommodations, decorated with vintage furniture and eclectic artwork.

“The Ash is not just about reviving a classic 1950s gem,” Alekz Jorgensen says. “It’s about embracing the character of the past while bringing it to life.”

Top: Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Vistors Bureau
Middle: Saulthistoricsites.com
Bottom: Bird’s Eye Facebook