History Along the River

Visit a land first settled by Native Americans thousands of years ago--Sault Ste. Marie--the oldest city in Michigan.

Over the course of history, the flags of several sovereign nations have flown over the Sault. The International Bridge links Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan with Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.

The legacy of Sault Ste. Marie dates back thousands of years, to when Native Americans first settled here. Along the rapids of the St. Marys River they found an abundant supply of whitefish, birch bark and pine pitch for canoes, fertile lands for planting and abundant game for hunting. The French arrived in the mid-1600s, establishing a lucrative fur-trading post. The British followed, recognizing the Soos strategic location between Lakes Superior and Huron.

When the government built the first system of locks in 1855, it firmly established Sault Ste. Marie as a commercial trade center. Today, the Soo Locks rank as the busiest locks in the world, transporting more goods than the Panama and Suez canals together.

Rushing waterfalls give way to majestic forests, rocky coastlines lead to picturesque lighthouses, and engineering feats of man stand side-by-side with small fishing skiffs and buckets of bait. The River of History Museum uses the St. Mary's River as a framework for telling the regions history. Life-size dioramas depict scenes such as Native Americans spear fishing in the rapids, and a French fur-trappers cabin. Step into more history nearby on Water Street, where some of the citys oldest homes have been preserved and are open for tours. They include the 1796 home of John Johnston (an early fur trader) and numerous other museums and historical sites.

For more information, contact the Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau.