Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada

Explorer Quotient

Authentic Explorer

With a foot in both worlds, you appreciate the understated beauty of natural and cultural environments. You enjoy using all of your senses when you explore your chosen destination and really get to know the places you visit. You quickly adapt to personal challenges and risks, easily figuring out how to make the most of every situation. You want to be fully immersed in your travel experiences and tend to stay away from group tours and rigid plans.

• Emergency Swing Dam – Walk around this enormous structure built in 1896, the last surviving example of its type. It’s nearly two football fields long! Count out all 23 wickets and imagine how, in 1909, these were lowered into the water and then sealed by their steel shutters to reduce the flow of water when the Dam was in full operation.
• Behind The Scenes Tour Of Motorhouse #1 – Observe the same gleaming gears and pulleys from 1895 that are still used today to operate the lock gate. Look through the windows and see the historic machinery in action just as it worked back in 1895. That familiar smell? It’s oil and grease, the same as it was over 100 years ago, still comforting today.
• Take A Self-Guided Tour Of The Site – Hike along the historic Attikamek Trail and discover evidence of the Ojibway and the builders and operators of the Sault Canal that lay hidden among the trees. Visit the red sandstone architectural marvels such as the Powerhouse, the Superintendent’s Residence and the Administration Building. Learn about the historic Sault Canal from the detailed interpretive panels, once the world’s longest lock and the first to be illuminated and operated by electricity.
• Meet Boaters At The Lock – For a real treat, stop at the historic Sault Canal and learn the science of how the lock works or the craft of boatmanship first-hand from travelling boaters. Quiz them on the tools they use, on the fishing industry or just exchange views about how the opening of the Canal over a hundred years ago marked the completion of the All-Canadian Waterway from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior.
• Geo Caching – Try your hand at GPS navigation. With over 64-hectares (160 acres) to explore, challenge your skills as you seek treasure along the historic waterway and discover the cultural and natural treasures the site has to offer including the Powerhouse, Attikamek Trail, Emergency Swing Dam, Gatelifter, Superintendent’s Residence and much more.

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Cultural Explorer

You seek constant opportunities to embrace, discover, and immerse yourself in the entire experience of the culture, people and settings of the places you visit. Not content to just visit historic sites and watch from the sidelines, you want to participate in the modern-day culture as well. You often attempt to converse with locals, attend local cultural festivals, or go off the beaten track to discover how people truly live.

Description

In its heyday, the locals will tell you, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site was the world’s longest lock and the first to be illuminated and operated by electricity. As you walk along the Canal and become immersed in the fascinating interpretive panels and exhibits, listen to the gears and pulleys from Motorhouse #1 as it operates the lock, it’s easy to understand why this national treasure remains incredible after more than a century.

Tour the site and visit the iconic red sandstone buildings and learn how these were constructed from sandstone dredged out from the channel. Learn about the lock through fascinating interactive exhibits. Walk around the Emergency Swing Dam to explore the wickets and steel shutters that are held together by rivets. How did this amazing structure manage to reduce the flow of water in the emergency of 1909?

Walk across the lock gates that form a small canal bridge onto south St. Marys Island where you can spend an afternoon exploring the Attikamek Trail. Afterwards, stop in at the Visitor Centre and check out the many exhibits and historic photographs and model replicas. Treat yourself to ice cream. Your day at the Sault Canal will be worth talking about for a long time.

Itineraries

• Hike The Trails – Spend an hour or part of a day, exploring the Attikamek Trail on south St. Marys Island, just across the Sault Canal. The trail is a marvel of intricate natural ecosystems and revolutionary engineering work created by humans. See the evidence of the builders, operators and protectors of the Sault Canal that lay hidden among the trees and underbrush.
• Tour The Site - Visit the red sandstone architectural marvels such as the Powerhouse, the Superintendent’s Residence and the Administration Building. Read the informative interpretive panels about the historic Sault Canal, once the world’s longest lock and the first to be illuminated and operated by electricity. So much to see – there are 64-hectares (160 acres) – you’ll want to spend the day taking it all in!
• Emergency Swing Dam – Walk around this enormous structure built in 1896. Today it’s the last surviving example of its type at a length of nearly two football fields long! Count out all 23 wickets and imagine how, in 1909, these were lowered into the water and then sealed by their steel shutters to reduce the flow of water when the Dam was in full operation.
• Visitor Centre – Take your time walking through the informative exhibits and learn that the Sault Canal was one of eight main line canals along the All-Canadian Waterway. You may notice some of the historic photographs side-by-side with model representations of the Emergency Swing Dam. Conclude the tour by watching a video and picking up an ice cream before heading out into the heat of the day.

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Cultural History Buff

You strive to go beyond your own roots to understand the history and culture of others. When you travel, you are likely pursuing a personal interest or hobby, making the experience more intrinsically rewarding. Travelling alone or in small groups, you seek the freedom to observe, absorb and learn at your own pace, unhurried by others or driven by rigid schedules.

Description

The moment you set eyes on the Emergency Swing Dam, you can’t wait to explore it and learn more about how it saved the day in 1909. But first, you might read with growing incredulousness that this engineering marvel is made entirely of steel and held together by rivets.

After exploring the Dam, you see first-hand that there is plenty to observe and absorb throughout the Sault Canal site. Book a behind the scenes tour of Motorhouse #1 where the Canal comes to life through a knowledgeable guide who recounts the intricacies of the gears and pulleys that are still used today to operate the lower lock gate. Look through the windows and see the historic machinery in action just as it worked back in 1895.

How can so much complex machinery function so efficiently? Spend a few moments at the Canal exhibits and learn about “butterfly” valves and depths of water. Afterwards, stop in at the east side of the site where you’ll see the Timber Shed where the historic lock gates were constructed and the Gatelifter, a floating piece of canal machinery that used to lift the lock gates into position. Still want to quench your historical thirst? Check out the entertaining videos in the visitor centre or spend a few moments speaking with a boater at the lock.

Itineraries

• Emergency Swing Dam – Walk around this enormous structure built in 1896 and today the last surviving example of its type. It’s nearly two football fields long! Count out all 23 wickets and imagine how, in 1909, these were lowered into the water and then sealed by their steel shutters to reduce the flow of water when the Dam was in full operation.
• Behind The Scenes Tour Of Motorhouse #1 – See the same gleaming gears and pulleys from 1895 that are still used today to operate the lock gate. Look through the windows and see the historic machinery in action just as it worked back in 1895. That familiar smell? It’s oil and grease, the same as it was over 100 years ago.
• Gatelifter – Stop at the east side of St. Marys Island and see the Gatelifter, an unusual piece of floating canal machinery that was used to lift the lock gates into position. Notice the three large holding tanks at the back? Those were filled with water as a counter balance when hanging gates into place.
• Historical Videos – Stop in at the Visitor Centre and wander through the informative exhibits. Learn how the Sault Canal was one of eight main line canals along the All-Canadian Waterway. You will notice some of the historic photographs side-by-side with modern model representations of the Emergency Swing Dam. Spend a few moments watching historical videos that deepen your knowledge of the site.
• Meet Boaters At The Lock – For a real treat, stop at the historic Sault Canal and learn the science of how the lock works or the craft of boatmanship first-hand from travelling boaters. Quiz them on the tools they use, on the fishing industry or chat about how the opening of the Canal over a hundred years ago marked the completion of an All-Canadian Waterway from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior.

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No Hassle Traveler

As a bit of an escapist, you search for relaxation and simplicity when you get away. You prefer worry-free travel and spending time travelling with family and friends. Short breaks and getaways are preferred to long-distance travel. After planning the basics of the trip (accommodations, transportation), you like to fill in the details as you go. Along the way, you hope to see and expose your family or travel companions to the beauty of natural scenery and different cultures.

Description

Did you know that the Sault Canal completed the last link in the All-Canadian Waterway along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system? Discover how, in a picturesque location along the St. Marys River, just steps from downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

A friendly interpreter will be happy to take you on a tour through the Sault Canal where you and your family can test your budding engineering skills and build an Emergency Swing Dam from Lego©. In the activity area at the Powerhouse, watch as your children see authentic leather belts, steel gears and pulleys that operate the pumps and then take turns drawing them with crayons!

Be sure to stop in at the Visitor Centre and treat the family to ice cream. And then spend the rest of your afternoon strolling along the Canal or sharing a laugh at a park bench beneath an elm tree. This is a place you’ll return to again and again.

Itineraries

• Visitor Centre – Take your time walking through the informative exhibits and learn how the Sault Canal was one of eight main line canals along the All-Canadian Waterway. You may notice some pulleys – those are for your children to learn the basic function of these simple devices that are so important at the Sault Canal. Watch an historical video before indulging in an ice cream as you head back out into the heat of the day.
• Guided Tour – Enjoy the knowledge and storytelling ability of an interpreter and learn how the Sault Canal completed the last link in the All-Canadian Waterway along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. Learn that the red sandstone buildings were made from the trenches dug out from the Canal. In the Powerhouse, touch the two-ply leather belts that turn the pulleys, which operate the pumps while your children happily draw with crayons in one of our learning activities.
• Historic Tea – Spend an afternoon indulging in a historic tea at the Superintendent’s Residence. Enjoy scones, a variety of teas and revel in the stories of the Sault Canal from one of our entertaining, costumed interpreters who bring the key events of the past into the present for you to enjoy. These special events are only available at certain times of the year so be sure to check ahead so you can book your spot.
• Celebrate Family Events - Watch as your children engage in a variety of activities with their cousins and grandparents. Visit with your brothers and sisters and enjoy a family reunion or celebrate a birthday along the canal beneath the cool shade of a leafy elm tree.

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Personal History Traveler

You travel to gain a deeper understanding of your ancestry and heritage. Your travel tends to be a shared experience, both during and after the trip. You feel safer when you stay at branded hotels and like to travel in style, comfort and security. You like to visit all of the important landmarks, so a carefully planned schedule, often as a part of group tours, ensures experiences of a lifetime.

Description

Bring your camera! A trip to the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site is sure to help you fill your photo album with snapshots of family and friends enjoying a day at this remarkable location along the cool waters of the St. Marys River.

See why the Ojibway called the river rapids “bawating,” which means “water flows over rocks.” It is said that in its heyday the noise from the rapids was so loud that you could not have a conversation with a friend on the shoreline. Historic photographs, model replicas, and interactive exhibits in the Visitor Centre bring history to life. There are stories of personal history everywhere here to thrill and entertain you and your tribe.

Want to reconnect with your past? Gather your family together for a reunion or wedding in the most picturesque spot of Sault Ste. Marie, situated along both the St. Marys River and the U.S. border. Spend a few moments watching your children connect with their own stories as they run ahead along the boardwalk into the city centre, stopping to read the interpretive panels before turning back to you and recounting the many historical stories they’ve just learned with pride in their eyes. Capture the moment. Your photo album will never be the same again after a visit to the Sault Canal.

Itineraries

• Visitor Centre – Take your time walking through the informative exhibits and learn how the Sault Canal was one of eight main line canals along the All-Canadian Waterway. Notice the pulleys? Those are for your children to learn the basic function of these simple devices that are so vital at the Sault Canal. Watch an historical video before indulging in an ice cream as you head back out into the heat of the day.
• Family Events – Gather your family together at the Sault Canal for those special moments or occasions where they can enjoy the superb waterfront location. Host a catered picnic along the Canal beneath the elm trees. The Superintendent’s Residence is a great place for having your wedding photos taken on the impressive veranda of the red sandstone historic building.
• Guided Tours – Enjoy the storytelling expertise of an interpreter and learn how the Sault Canal completed the last link in the All-Canadian Waterway along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. Did you know that the red sandstone buildings were made from the trenches dug out in the Canal? In the Superintendent’s Residence, enjoy the historic photographs on the walls while your children build a working Lego© model of the Emergency Swing Dam.
• Stroll Along the Boardwalk – Explore the historic Sault Ste. Marie Canal and Waterfront by taking a stroll along the boardwalk that connects the Canal to City Centre. See the lake boats and the “salties.” Marvel at the St. Marys rapids known as ‘bawating” by the Ojibway, which means “water flows over rocks.” You might see sport fishermen throw a line into the water. There are plenty of park benches and interpretive panels along the way to stop and rest. It’s easy to see why the city considers itself as “naturally gifted.”

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Free Spirit

Something of a thrill-seeking hedonist, travel satisfies your insatiable need for the exciting and the exotic. You like the best of everything and want to be surrounded by others who feel the same way. You have a lot of energy and want to see and do everything. It all adds to the fun! Young, or young-at-heart, you travel for the thrill and emotional charge of doing things. You can’t stay at home. Why would you?

Description

So many photo op’s, so little time! Visit the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site and capture all your extraordinary moments to show your friends and family back home.

Fish the rapids, one of the top ten fishing rivers in Ontario and endorsed by none other than Ernest Hemingway. You’ll want someone to snap a picture of your flawless cast, or as you wade into the water to net your fish. At the end of the day, it won’t matter whether you catch a fish or not, what matters is how well you tell the story.

Ever found yourself so close to the border and yet so far? The impressive, high arching span of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge extends over the river, connecting Canada with the U.S. Keep your camera ready – this is one shot you don’t want to miss, especially at sunset!

Spend a few quiet moments on the Attikamek Trail. Afterwards, stop in at the Visitor Centre in search of that perfect ice cream. But first be sure to have your picture taken outside of this remarkable red sandstone building. Smile! You’ll want to ensure an ideal shot that captures a visit of a lifetime.

Itineraries

• Fish The Rapids – Do you fly fish, spin cast, bait fish, wade or boat fish? The St. Marys River flows through the Sault Canal and has been rated on of the top ten fishing rivers in Ontario. In fact, Ernest Hemingway once said of the river: “…the best rainbow trout fishing in the world is in the rapids of the Canadian Soo…”
• Hike The Trails – Explore the fascinating Attikamek Trail on South St. Marys Island, just across the Sault Canal. The trail features a remarkable mix of intricate natural ecosystems and revolutionary engineering work created by humans. See evidence of the builders, operators and protectors of the Sault Canal that lay hidden among the trees and underbrush.
• Photo Op’s At The Edge of Canada – Stand in front of the Emergency Swing Dam and have your picture taken. That massive bridge in the background? That’s the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge spanning across St. Marys River that connects Canada and the U.S. You can walk beneath it or admire it from afar. Either way, you’ll want to snap plenty of photos to capture it all.

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Gentle Explorer

You like returning to past destinations and enjoy the security of familiar surroundings. You seek the most comfortable places when you get away and avoid the unknown. Well-organized travel packages and guided tours that take care of all the details appeal to you - travel should be fun, not extra work! And if it’s fun, chances are you’ll be back.

Description

Just steps from downtown Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Canal’s promise of tranquility and natural spaces beckons you and your family.

Take a guided tour and enjoy the Canal’s fascinating place in Canadian boating history. Relax as you watch a series of short but deeply satisfying films on the history and operations of the Canal. Marvel at the role that the Emergency Swing Dam played in 1909. Afterwards, stretch out your legs and explore the Attikamek Trail on South St. Marys Island.

Stroll along the boardwalk that connects the Sault Canal with downtown Sault Ste. Marie. Picnic along the Canal where locals fish against the spectacular scenery of St. Marys River and the backdrop of Michigan on the other side of the water. In the evening you won’t want to miss silvery fish flashing in the river as they jump and feed off midges. Look up: it’s a perfect night for teaching your children the constellations beneath a canopy of glittering stars.

Itineraries

• Hike The Trails – Explore the fascinating Attikamek Trail on South St. Marys Island, just across the Sault Canal. The trail features a remarkable mix of intricate natural ecosystems and revolutionary engineering work created by humans. See evidence of the builders, operators and protectors of the Sault Canal that lay hidden among the trees and underbrush.
• Fish The Rapids – Do you fly fish, spin cast, bait fish, wade or boat fish? The St. Marys River, which flows through the Sault Canal, has been rated one of the top ten fishing rivers in Ontario. In fact, Ernest Hemingway once said: “…the best rainbow trout fishing in the world is in the rapids of the Canadian Soo…”
• Guided Tours – Enjoy the storytelling expertise of an interpreter and learn how the Sault Canal completed the last link in the All-Canadian Waterway along the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. Did you know that the red sandstone buildings were made from the trenches dug out from the Canal? Book a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Superintendent’s Residence where you can enjoy the historic photographs on the walls while your children build a working Lego© model of the Emergency Swing Dam.
• Stroll Along the Boardwalk – Explore the Sault Ste. Marie Canal and Waterfront by taking a stroll along the boardwalk that connects the Canal to City Centre. See the lake boats and the “salties.” Marvel at the St. Marys rapids known as ‘bawating” by the Ojibway, which means “water flows over rocks.” You might see sport fishermen throw a line into the water. There are plenty of park benches and interpretive panels along the way to stop and rest. It’s easy to see why the city considers itself as “naturally gifted.”
• Picnic Along The Canal – Watch your children engage in a variety of play activities with their cousins and grandparents. Observe the boats as they slip past and relax with a family barbecue, or celebrate a birthday with a picnic basket along the canal beneath the shade of a leafy elm tree.

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Rejuvenator

For you, travel is a chance to totally disconnect and just “get away from it all.” All you want to do is rest, recharge and renew. You usually take short vacations to familiar destinations, often for family visits and celebrations. While you might seek out destinations with a few interesting things to see and do, you don’t want overly hectic schedules of events. After all, travel is meant to be relaxing, not extra work!

Description

A visit to the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site could not be anything except relaxing. This surprises you but once you see the open spaces, the red sandstone buildings and the leafy elm trees, you realize that this is a place where peace, as a poet once wrote, comes dropping slow.

Stroll along the Canal at your own pace, comforted by the sound of water gently lapping against the lock. What’s that smell? It might be the river or it could be the tang of the many varieties of trees that are sprinkled across the site or it might be the familiar and comforting scent of freshly cut grass that informs you summer is in full bloom.

Being so close to the river you can’t help but think wouldn’t it be good if you could just follow it for a while? And to your surprise, you can walk along the wooden boardwalk that parallels the water into downtown Sault Ste. Marie where you might have lunch before making your way back to the Sault Canal for the afternoon. Rejuvenated, you find yourself enjoying the sound of birds in the air, waves against the shoreline, children laughing as they play nearby.

You know you’ll be back again. There are picnics to enjoy with friends and family on a lazy afternoon. Or perhaps you’ll spend your time reading a book on a bench overlooking the river, watching the world slowly drift past.

Itineraries

• Picnic Along The Canal – Watch your children play with their cousins and grandparents. See the boats slip past and enjoy a family barbecue or celebrate a birthday with a picnic basket beneath an elm tree along the Canal.
• Stroll Along the Canal – After spending a relaxing morning in the Visitor’s Centre, indulge yourself with a slow stroll along the Sault Canal. Breathe in the fresh air of the river. Watch as boaters slide through the lock and spend a few lazy moments glancing at the interpretive panels. Who knew the eight “butterfly” valves, used to control the flow of water into and out of the culverts, were so innovative not to mention aptly named?
• Enjoy A Nature Walk – Cross the delightful footbridge over the Canal onto south St. Marys Island where you quickly find yourself walking in a pleasant grove of elm and oak trees. Try to identify the birds that float overhead or just enjoy the cadence of their song rising in the air. You might see a blue kingfisher perched on an overhanging branch or a Merganser swim past on the river.
• Stroll Along the Boardwalk – Explore the Sault Ste. Marie Canal and Waterfront by taking a stroll along the boardwalk that connects the Canal to City Centre. See the lake boats and the “salties.” Marvel at the St. Marys rapids known as ‘bawating” by the Ojibway, which means “water flows over rocks.” You might see sport fishermen throw a line into the water. There are plenty of park benches and interpretive panels along the way to stop and rest. It’s easy to see why the city considers itself as “naturally gifted.”
• People Watching On The Canal - Enjoy an ice cream along the Canal and gaze at the world as it drifts past on the St. Marys River. Or, sit on a park bench and watch your children race around the rich expanse of green grass, making new friends and laughing like you’ve never seen them laugh before. 

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Virtual Traveller

Tending not to travel very often, you prefer the comforts of home to the uncertainties of new places or cultures. Often very active locally, you usually find enough to satisfy your sense of exploration within your community. Rather than being restricted to the confines of pre-packaged tours, you prefer the flexibility of being able to decide what you want or don’t want to do on your own. Your trips tend to be shorter, close to home and centered on family events.

Description

It’s not often that you venture far from home but as you enter the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site and breathe in the comforting earthy scents of leaves, grass and river water, you’ll know you’ve found a spot to rejuvenate the senses.

It’s tempting to step inside the Visitor Centre – how could you resist such a gorgeous architectural structure made in red sandstone? Here, you’ll find videos to watch, exhibits and model replicas to keep you engaged. Afterwards, resting on a comfortable bench with your favourite book, you conclude that this is a great place for anyone to gather.

This realization is confirmed throughout your stay at the Sault Canal. There are picnics along the Canal. A wedding photographer snaps a young couples’ picture beneath the veranda at the Superintendent’s Residence. The sky is impossibly blue in the morning as you sip your coffee and look out over the river. In the evening, you can hear birds chirping in the trees along the St. Marys River.

As you relax in the shade and watch the world languidly pass by, you already know you’ll return. The question is, how soon?

Itineraries

• Picnic Along The Canal – Watch your children play with their cousins and grandparents. See the boats slip past and enjoy a family barbecue or celebrate a birthday with a picnic basket along the canal beneath a leafy elm tree.
• Enjoy An Entertaining Video in the Visitor Centre – Relax and watch an entertaining video that will take you back in time and leave you feeling more connected to this historic site. You’ll appreciate the opportunity to learn about the Canal and its treasures from the comfort of the Visitor Centre.
• Self-Guided Tours Along the Canal - Learn about the historic Sault Canal from the interpretive panels, once the world’s longest lock and the first to be illuminated and operated by electricity. The Canal played an important role in Canada’s expansion, moving wheat, ore and lumber east and new settlers west. So many interesting stories – you’ll want to pace yourself to take it all in.
• Read A Book In The Shade - Enjoy a warm afternoon along the Canal and read your favourite book in the cool shade of an elm tree. Need a refreshment? Stop in at the Visitor Centre for some ice cream.
• Sip Your Morning Coffee as the Site Comes To Life - Beat the morning rush! Relax and soak up the tranquility of early morning at the Sault Canal. Sip a cup of coffee and close your eyes. That comforting smell is fresh river water coming from the St. Marys River. It’s a perfect start to the day.

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