There are tons of ways to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Here’s a list of ten quintessential activities that define an authentic experience in the Soo. Whether this is your first or 350th visit to the Soo, we hope you choose to celebrate this monumental celebration with us in 2018!
1. Watch a freighter at the Soo Locks Park! The observation deck is one of the best places to watch the freighters as they navigate the St. Marys River. Don’t forget to stop by the Soo Locks Visitors Center and enjoy the free museum.
2. Take a two-hour Soo Locks Boat Tour on the St. Marys River and learn about the history of the area from a live narrator.
3. Join the club! Order your 350th commemorative pin and coin, and get the name of your choice on the 350th Commemorative Club plaque. Order here.
4. Fudge is a natural part of a visit north of the Mackinac Bridge, but Sault Ste. Marie has its own 350th Anniversary Fudge! Zak’s Kandy Haus and Fudge Du Locke are both offering this creamy chocolate fudge filled with caramel and cashews. Now THAT is the way to celebrate!
5. Walk or run a 5K! The WMH Sault International Festival of Races is offering a fantastic, locally-crafted, medal to all participants that cross the finish line during the September 29th event. Although this particular 5K does not run across the International Bridge, we have two other marathons that do! Learn more about the Half-Marathon and the Bridge Run here.
6. If you want to know more about the Soo’s origin, then you should explore the River of History Museum on Ashmun St. and learn about the area, spanning back thousands of years into its history.
7. “The river is the reason we are here,” is a phrase spoken over and over again, and it is the truth. Explore the waters of the St. Marys River and paddle to Voyageur Island.
8. On the northwest corner of City Hall’s lawn, facing Water Street sits a rock commemorating the establishment of St. Mary’s Church. The steeple of the church can be seen in the background of this photo. The original St. Mary’s Cathedral was established by Father Jacques Marquette in 1668 and was the start of what we now call the city of Sault Ste. Marie.
9. Experience the history of Sault Ste. Marie at the Historic Homes of Water St. These four historic buildings are staffed with knowledgeable docents from the last Friday in June until Labor Day weekend annually.
10. Walk through Historic Fort Brady, now Lake Superior State University, and see the housing units for Fort Brady, which was used in World War II. Originally built in 1822 on what is now Water Street, the fort was permanently moved to Ashmun Hill in 1892. Visiting the fort is like going back in time.
These are just a few things that you could do to celebrate the city of Sault Ste. Marie’s 350th Anniversary! There are also festivals and events all year that you could attend such as the 350 Fest July 20-22, 2018! If you’re taking pictures for social media, make sure to tag them with #ILoveTheSoo when you post them!
