Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site — Attraction in Sault Ste. Marie

Hi there. Well I made it. Left Delta BC on Sun. and am staying at Blueberry Hill rv campground about 20 miles from the "Soo ". I was born and raised here and left in my early 20 s back in the early 70 s. I'm here visiting family and friends for who knows.! I lived right in the Centre of downtown so all of these now historic sites were my friends and my playground. The locks were working back then with big lake freighters and small pleasure craft using it. We used to sneak across the lock gates and go on the little island there and walk through the bush that would take you right next to the Sault Rapids. This was the reason for the locks in the first place. They are pretty impressive in the spring with full water flow.! This all brings back lots of boyhood memories. There used to be a ferry right downtown that crossed to Sault Ste Marie , Michigan before the International Bridge was built. It was the only way to cross without driving all around Lake Superior . My buddy's dad worked on the ferry and sometimes he would let us ride back and forth a few times. Pretty fun stuff when your 11 or 12 years old. In the summer there were lineups for miles up the streets around my neighborhood. I was always amazed at all those "mericans " in their big , shiny , aluminum Airstream. And yes , as God is my witness , we used to get some of the tourists wondering where they could see some Eskimos and truly amazed that there was.no snow on the ground ! Me and my buddy's would just howl at these guys. That's why we used to talk them in the lineups. Hey , it was the middle of summer and we were goofing off. Anyway , I'd love to post some info and memories of other stuff if your interested. I have a good story about the mansion at the locks if it's still there. Oh Yeh , the locks are an awesome place to visit by the way. Used to be a fur trading post here back in the 1600 s. Want to know why all the old buildings on both sides of the river are built with that remarkable red sandstone ? Stay...

I’d come back for sure. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Canadian history and engineering. Located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the site was constructed in the late 19th century to bypass the rapids on the St. Marys River, allowing ships to safely navigate between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

The site offers a variety of experiences for visitors, including guided tours of the historic powerhouse and lock, interactive exhibits, and beautiful walking trails along the river. Visitors can also take a boat tour to see the canal from the water, which provides a unique perspective on the engineering marvel.

One of the highlights of the site is the ability to witness the operation of the lock and hydropower generating station, which is still in use today. The engineering behind the canal is truly impressive, and visitors will appreciate the ingenuity and skill required to construct such a complex system over a century ago.

Overall, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site is a well-maintained and informative attraction that offers visitors an opportunity to learn about Canada's industrial heritage and the engineering feats that helped shape the country. It's a great destination for families, history buffs, and anyone interested in the intersection of nature...

A great place for history and nature. We visited during much construction, so many buildings were closed. The visitor's center was in a small trailer. The staff was warm and generous with their time. This was once the largest of the Soo locks, but has been replaced by the locks on the American side. A smaller "recreational" lock has been built inside the older 1895 lock, so you still get the see boats pass through (this is part of the Soo Locks Boat Tour), but to see the big ships, you need to go to the American side. However, unlike the American locks, you get to walk all around this lock and over the gates to the other side. There is little security, nor any reason for it. There are trails that lead over to the rapids on the river and board walks that allow you to get right up close. This is a popular running and walking spot...