Wandering Around Sault Sainte Marie

Sault Ste. Marie is a city that sits on the northeastern edge of Michigan and is bordered by the St. Marys River.  Across the river is the Canadian city of the same name.  The city became the oldest European settlement in the Midwest (and second oldest in North America) when Father Jacques Marquette landed there to establish a Catholic Mission in 1668.  At this time, it was already a thriving Native American settlement and it quickly grew to become a major fur trading settlement.  At this time, the settlement straddled both sides of the River.

The two communities were separated in 1817 when the US-UK Boundary Commission formed the border at the St. Marys River.  The two cities would be sort of joined again when the International Bridge opened in 1962.

 Probably the most famous structure in Sault Ste Marie is the Soo Locks.  The Soo Locks were first built in 1855 as a means to get shipping from Lake Superior to Lake Huron.  Over the years, those locks have been modified.  Currently there are two locks in use, the MacArthur Lock which opened in 1943 and the Poe Lock which opened in 1895 but was expanded in 1968 in order to handle the larger ships.  There are plans to merge the Davis and Sabin locks into another Poe Lock but that is currently tied up with the nastiness in Washington.  If the grounding of the Paul Tregurtha last year wasn't enough of a clue that we need a second large lock, I don't know what is.  I would hate to think of what would happen to shipping if the Poe Lock were somehow damaged.

 This is the hydroelectric plant.  It is pretty cool to see the inside.

 This is a survey boat used by the Corps of Engineers.

 The sign for the Hydro Plant.

The Holy Name of Mary Pro-Cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the United States.  It was began by Jesuits in 1668.  The church above was built in 1881.  In 1984, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was added to the state's in 1989.

 A shot of the spire.

 A shot of City Hall.  Sault Ste Marie currently has a little over 14,000 residents making it the third largest city in the Upper Peninsula.

 This is the site of a Native American Burial Ground.

 A tug that is operated by the Corps of Engineers.

 I think this is a repair vehicle.

 As is this.

 This was a building I thought looked kind of interesting.

 The Chippewa County Court House. 

 I kind of like the details on the building.

 One of the statues in front of the building.  I think this has Native American significance.

 A statue of justice.

 This was a statue donated by Chase Osborn who was the only governor to come from the Upper Peninsula.

 A bridge that spans the canal that was dug for the Hydro Plant.

 Looking down the main street in Sault Ste Marie.

The town is also called the Soo.