Sault Ste. Marie is a charming lakeside city on Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a rich maritime history and a bustling waterfront. Surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes that change into spectacular dioramas with the changing seasons, Sault Ste. Marie is home to an array of things to see and do from the world-renowned Soo Locks, historic lighthouses and cultural sites, the magnificent Tahquamenon Falls, and a variety of year-round recreational activities.
Soo Locks
The Soo Locks are a set of water locks that were built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that enables ships to move between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Constructed in the mid-1800s, the locks are fondly known as the ‘Linchpin of the Great Lakes’ and are an engineering marvel that draws thousands of tourists to see them every year.
The Soo Locks see more than 7,000 vessels including barges, tugboats, and huge freighters, passing through each year, being lifted, and lowered the 21-foot difference between the two lakes.
An observation deck named after General Douglas MacArthur is in the Soo Locks Park and offers fantastic views of ships passing through the working locks.
Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-632-3366, Map
Museum Ship Valley Camp
The Museum Ship Valley Camp is a museum ship dedicated to the lake freighter, SS Valley Camp that served on the Great Lakes for almost 50 years. The 550-foot-long vessel is permanently docked on historic Water Street and features over 100 interesting exhibits that document the history of the freighter and the maritime heritage of Sault Ste. Marie. Visitors can explore the ship on guided tours, experience the crew’s quarters which housed 29 men, and take in the fascinating exhibits housed in the cargo hold. The Valley Camp also houses four aquariums showcasing a variety of fish species from the Great Lakes region. The Museum Ship Valley Camp is open to visitors from mid-May through Mid-October.
326 E Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Map
Point Iroquois Light
The Point Iroquois Light is a historic lighthouse on a bluff in the Chippewa County that marks the meeting point of the St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay.
The iconic lighthouse and the land on which it rests is part of the Hiawatha National Forest and is now a marine museum that documents the history of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse museum features a furnished apartment that housed the lighthouse keeper, exhibits of navigational aids and lighthouse technology, and a collection of historical photos, and is open to the public seasonally.
13042-13260 W Lakeshore Dr, Brimley, MI 49715, Map
Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge
The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge stretches across the St. Marys River to connect the United States and Canada. The iconic bridge links to the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario and is one of the busiest passenger crossings along the border.
Constructed in 1960 and opened to traffic two years later, the bridge is built with steel arch trusses with a suspended deck with double arches on the U.S. side crossing the four Soo Locks.
934 Bridge Plaza, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-635-5255, Map
Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University is a vibrant learning institution with a 115-acre campus built on the historic site of Fort Brady that offers undergraduate degrees ranging from fisheries and wildlife management to engineering.
In addition to offering a first-class education on an international level, the university is renowned for a few unique traditions like the ‘Banished Words List, which is a list of words that are forbidden due to misuse and overuse.
Other traditions include the ringing of the Hoholik Victory Bell after home game victories; the blasting of the Ship's Horn after goals are scored at home games; and the Snowman Burning to celebrate the first day of Spring.
650 W Easterday Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-632-6841, Map
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church
The Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic Church in Michigan. Also known as St. Mary Proto-Cathedral, the historic Roman Catholic church was once a cathedral and the first of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette. Designed Canadian architect Joseph Connolly and erected in 1881, the present church is built in the Gothic Revival style and features many beautiful architectural and design elements. The parish follows the faith traditions begun by Jesuit missionaries more than 350 years ago.
337 Maple St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-632-3381, Map
River of History Museum
The River of History Museum is dedicated to presenting the history of Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding waterways of the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including the culturally important St. Mary's River System. Located on Ashmun Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, the museum features 11 galleries with fascinating exhibits documenting the history of the river system from the Ice Age to the present day.
Exhibits tell the story of life next to and on the river, and the history of French fur traders and local Native Americans. There are also a variety of artifacts relating to the river and its rich history on display, and a museum shop sells books, educational gifts, and souvenirs.
531 Ashmun St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-632-1999, Map
Saint Mary's Falls Hydropower Plant
The Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant is a hydroelectric generating plant that extracts water from the St. Marys River to create power for the Soo area.
Built in 1898, the hydropower plant is one of the oldest hydroelectric stations in the United States and features 74 generators together under a single span of roof.
The plant is constructed in the Classical Style spanning 1,340 feet in length along the banks of the St. Marys River. The Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant is listed as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 800-562-4953, Map
Soo Theatre Project, Inc.
The Soo Theatre is a community performing arts venue that presents an array of shows, including off-Broadway shows, theater, opera, and musical and dance recitals. The intimate venue opened in 1930 and presented a variety of major productions and full orchestral concerts until 1974 when it was converted into a two-screen movie theater.
The theater closed and fell into disrepair in 1998 and was later restored to its former glory as a performing arts venue by the Soo Theatre Project in 2005. Today, the theater presents locally produced shows and offers a variety of classes in drama, dance, art, music, and yoga.
534 Ashmun St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-632-1930, Map
The Palace Mexican Restaurant & Saloon
The Palace Mexican Restaurant & Saloon is a long-standing dining destination with rich décor and elegant chandeliers that has been serving New American and Mexican fare and handcrafted cocktails for more than 100 years.
Established in 1903, the stylish restaurant boasts ornate furnishings, walls adorned with hockey memorabilia, and a beautiful mahogany bar serving an extensive list of drinks, including many varieties of margaritas. Seasonal menus feature traditional Mexican dishes prepared using age-old recipes passed down through generations, as well as classic American fare like burgers, steaks, and salads. The Palace Saloon is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
The Palace Mexican Restaurant & Saloon, 200 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, Phone: 906-632-7721
Zak's Kandy Haus
Zak's Kandy Haus is a small café that serves all things decadent and sweet. Located on Portage Avenue, the little café is an ideal spot to stop for a sweet treat after watching the ships pass through the Soo Locks, and offers an array of Stroh's (Mooney's) ice-cream, hand-spun milkshakes, sundaes, floats, and waffle cones. The menu also features 12 flavors of homemade fudge, sugar-free fudge, freshwater taffy, cashew, and peanut brittle, freshly baked brownies, cookies, and cakes.
Zak's Kandy Haus, 401 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783-1839, Phone: 906-635-0350
Water Street Historic Block
A visit to the Water Street Historic Block in Sault Ste. Marie will take you on a journey back in time to get an insight into the everyday lives of the early settlers and fur traders who once lived where the Great Lakes meet.
The various houses are filled with original furnishings and artifacts which give an accurate picture of life during the pioneer days. There are two houses to tour as well as the Kemp Coal Dock Office, which is home to a museum which showcases the industrial history of the town. Informative guided tours of these historic buildings are offered during the summer season.
Water Street Historic Block, 415 Water Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Mi 49783, 906 632 3658
Soo Brewing Company
Soo Brewing Company strives to brew beer that surpasses an everyday brew and can be served with pride by Sault Ste. Marie residents. To this end, they use only the finest ingredients and age-old tested methods to produce a range of hand crafted beers that are of excellent quality, innovative and affordable. Visitors to Sault Ste. Marie are invited to pay the brewery a visit; you can listen to some music, chat to friends, have some great food and sample a freshly brewed beer of your choice. There are usually at least 6 freshly brewed beers on tap – you are invited to stop by and find your favorite.
Soo Brewing Company, 100 W. Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, 906 259 5036
Lockside Mini Golf
Family owned and operated, Lockside Mini Golf offers great outdoor entertainment for just about all ages. Located on the St. Mary’s River on the U.S. – Canada border, this pleasantly appointed 18-hole mini golf course offers great views of the freighters traversing the busy Soo locks in the channel. The golf course is located right beside Karl’s Cuisine, where you can enjoy a delicious freshly-prepared meal before or after your game. Karl’s also serves wine, craft beer and hard cider made right there on the premises. The mini-golf course is an ideal party venue (for all ages) and catering can be provided by Karl’s Cuisine.
Lockside Mini Golf, 447 West Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, 906 259 7500
Tower of History
Towering 210 feet above the town of Sault Ste. Marie, the Tower of History is a prominent landmark which was built in 1968. The tower offers visitors outstanding views out over the world’s busiest inland shipping channel, the Soo Locks. You can ride the express elevator to the observation deck at the top of the tower to admire unsurpassed views in all directions. On a good day, you can see for miles and miles. The tower was built by the Catholic Church to serve as the Shrine of the Missionaries and was originally meant to be part of a much more extensive project which never materialized. There is a museum on the lower level which documents the history of the early missionaries and local Native American history.
Tower of History, 326 E Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, 906 632 3658
