The Soo Locks connect Lake Superior with Lake Huron and allow freighters to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. In Sault Ste. Marie, you can explore its maritime heritage in different ways: a viewing point offers a look at the lockage process, boat tours travel through the locks, and museums tell stories of the river and freight shipping. If you are planning a stay, these highlights can help you decide which visits to prioritize.

Watch the Soo Locks or travel through them

Admission to the Soo Locks Visitor Center is free; check the official visitor information before your trip. In Soo Locks Park, an observation platform offers a view of the lockage process. It provides a vantage point within the park, while a boat tour puts the journey through the locks at the center of the experience.

On boat tours, passengers travel through the locks alongside freighters and other watercraft. This makes shipping traffic an immediate part of the tour. Operators and schedules may vary. If a boat tour is part of your plans, check tour dates for your visit.

Museums: River history and life aboard a freighter

The River of History Museum focuses on the history of the river and its people, from the time of the glaciers through the 20th century. Eleven separate galleries feature exhibits, and self-guided tours are accompanied by an audio wand. The tour thus combines a broad historical period with an independent visit through the exhibits.

The museum ship Valley Camp offers a different focus. Built in 1917, it has more than 100 exhibits in its cargo hold. The deck, pilothouse, and sleeping quarters show how the crew lived aboard the freighter. Alongside the exhibits, the ship’s spaces that illustrate the crew’s life are also a central part of the experience.

The two museums offer different historical perspectives: the River of History Museum spans a long period and includes the people of the river; the Valley Camp focuses on a specific freighter and life aboard it.

Views and history at the Tower of History

The Tower of History combines views with an exploration of history. It has three observation platforms; from the upper level, the view extends 20 miles. The Tower’s exhibits focus on the history of early missionaries, local history, and Native American history. Access may vary by season, so check visiting conditions for the time of your trip.

Plan your visits and accommodations

When planning your accommodations, it may help to first account for visits with variable conditions: boat tour operators and schedules may vary, and access to the Tower is seasonal. Check these details before your trip, then set your stay dates.

Discover more destinations: Dafter, Paradise, Brimley.

For the broader travel overview: Chippewa County.