Visitors and residents will get a rare chance to see the inner workings of three major landmarks in Sault Ste. Marie, as the city celebrates Engineer's Weekend.
On June 25 and 26, the
Soo Locks, the historic former
Edison Sault hydroelectric plant, and the
International Bridge all will allow visitors access free of charge.
The weekend starts Friday with the Soo Locks' annual open house, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the public can tour the buildings and grounds at the Locks, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visitors can even walk across the Lock walls, usually closed to the public.
"The Soo Locks complex offers such a unique glimpse at both our history and our way of life," says Linda Hoath, executive director of the Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Architecture, engineering, and the lore of the Great Lakes all come together in this beautiful park setting."
The historic hydroelectric plant, built in 1902 and formerly the Edison Sault plant, is also open for tours. The day begins with a ribbon-cutting at 8:30 a.m. hosted by Cloverland Electric Cooperative, the building's new owner.
The third event comes Saturday, when the International Bridge, connecting Michigan to Ontario, is opened to thousands of walkers at 9 a.m.
"There are so many reasons that this is a unique walk, but the highlight is definitely seeing the Soo Locks complex from a distinctly aerial vantage point. Visitors who have walked other bridges tell us ours is one-of-a-kind," says Hoath.
Adults will need a passport or enhanced driver's license to walk and children require a birth certificate.
Besides the three main events, other activities include prize drawings, tours of Lake Superior State University's Aquatic Lab, and a book signing and talk from Dennis Hale, sole survivor of the Daniel J. Morrell sinking in 1966.
More information is
here.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Linda Hoath, Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau
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