Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Tourist Attractions
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The Canadian border city of Sault Ste Marie, principal town of Algoma County, is situated on the delightful St Mary's River which joins Lake Superior to Lake Huron.
St Mary's River
The locks on the St Mary's River at Sault Ste Marie are the hub of navigation on the Great Lakes, neutralizing the 7.2 m (23 ft) drop from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The first canal to be built at this strategic point was constructed by the North West Company in 1798, but was destroyed in the 1812 war. Next came a lock in 1855, followed in 1895 by a canal on the Canadian side and lock staircase on the American, circumventing the rapids. Today there are five parallel locks of which the 9 m (29 ft) deep McArthur Lock (on the USA side) is the largest.
Soo Locks
Navigable only from mid-April to mid-December the 2km / 1.25mi long canals on the U.S. and Canadian sides of the frontier at Sault Ste Marie together make up the world's busiest waterway. Well over 100 million tons of freight (mainly mineral ore and grain) pass through the locks en route from the industrial centers, mining and wheat growing areas around Lake Superior. A boat trip through the "Soo Locks" - those on the Canadian side of the St Mary's Rapids were completed in 1895 - is an experience not to be missed.
Ermatinger House
Ermatinger House is an attractive solid 1814 stone-built house originally belonged to a fur trader whose wife came from the local Ojibwa tribe. Now restored it provides a graphic insight into what life was like here almost 200 years ago.
Bellevue Park
Queen Street East in Sault Ste Marie is the location of the lovely Bellevue Park with its conservatories, small zoo, lighthouse and marina.Also in the park is a children's playground.
M.S. Norgoma
The M.S. "Norgoma" was the last passenger ship built for service on the Great Lakes. Now on permanent moorings and converted into a museum the 24 m (79 ft) vessel can be toured from stem to stern.
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
This Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste Marie collects and displays bushplanes and aviation memorabilia and is a tribute to the history of bush flying. The collection also includes forest fire fighting equipment.
Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site
The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site highlights the many accomplishments from the canal construction in 1895 to its operation today. It was the world's longest lock, was designed and built by Canadians, and the first to operate with electrical power. The site features the world's only remaining emergency swing dam as well as five historic buildings constructed of beautiful red sandstone.The canal was converted to small craft use in 1998.
Art Gallery of Algoma
An eye-catching modern building on the St Mary's embankment houses the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste Marie, a community-oriented visual arts center. Approximately 24 exhibitions feature local, national and international artists, as well, there is an ever growing permanent collection of 4000 works of art.
Sault Ste Marie Museum
The Sault Ste Marie Museum is housed in the former Post Office built near the turn of the 20th Century. The Museum tells the story of Sault Ste. Marie through five exhibit galleries with exhibits from Pre-historic times to modern times. Artifacts on display include clothing, bedding, carpets; household furnishings and equipment; tools; sports equipment; toys; personal and military gear and archaeological specimens.
Spruce Haven Zoo
Spruce Haven opened in 1988 as a private Zoo and it has grown into a rehabilitation and release or place for disadvantaged animals. There are over 100 animals from around the world exhibited in a natural setting.
Map of Sault Ste Marie Attractions
Map - Sault Ste. Marie
