Sault Ste. Marie Michigan – Explore the sights of Michigan’s first city

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Kayakers on the St. Marys River as it nears the Soo Locks

Sault Ste. Marie

See what Michigan’s first city has to offer.
In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the state was founded. It is a beautiful place with a lot of lakes, countries, and cultures coming together. The very first city in the state is built on the banks of the powerful St. Marys River, which joins the Great Lakes and forms a border with Canada. The area affectionately called “The Soo” has a lot to see and do. Its past is full of Native American, French, and British influences. You can eat whitefish that was just caught, walk to an icy waterfall, relax on a beautiful beach, and see old lighthouses. See the unique design of some of the state’s oldest buildings and then spend the evening enjoying the city’s busy nightlife, which includes lots of places to eat and drink, games, and concerts.

“Maritime Majesty”: The Soo Locks are in Sault Ste. Marie. They are a canal system with gates and rooms that move ships and other boats six meters between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Almost 170 years ago, the first lock was built. Today, the locks let over 80 billion kilograms of commercial goods travel through them every year, which are sent all over the Great Lakes area. People can follow the same path by taking a Soo Locks Boat Tours boat ride down the river. Back on land, the Soo Locks complex has a beautiful park and an interesting tourist center. Visit the Museum Ship Valley Camp, which is a converted freighter that now has hundreds of marine displays, and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. When you get to the top of the almost 20-meter tower of the Point Iroquois Lighthouse, you can see Lake Superior and Sault Ste. Marie in large groups.

 

What a Beautiful World
People who swim, boat, and fish all enjoy Lake Superior’s clear, fresh water. Its parks and beaches are great places to go for a stroll or to relax by the water. At nearby Tahquamenon Falls State Park, where thundering rapids crash over rocks, you can also see Mother Nature at her best. The Lower Falls have a series of smaller falls, each more beautiful than the last. The Upper Falls drop more than 15 meters to the river below. There are hiking paths, rowboat rentals, a brewpub with great views, and unique gifts for sale in the park. Explore the huge forests of the Hiawatha National Forest. It’s a great place to go hiking and see wildlife all year long.

 

Culture in North America
Native Americans were the first people to live in Sault Ste. Marie. They relied on the many natural resources in the lakes and forests that surround the city. Because of this, different groups, called the Anishinaabeg or “original people,” found a place to meet in the Soo. In the 1700s, the French and British would fight over the area because it was so important for their battle plans. People today honor the history of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and other Indigenous groups by going to annual Pow Wows, local museums, and listening to native storytellers talk about their ancestors’ lives here at Bahweting, which is the native name for Sault Ste. Marie. Take the quick lift up to the top of the 64-meter Tower of History to see the city below you stretch out all the way to the Canadian border. Then, check out the museum’s two-levels of interesting displays about the culture of the area.