Soo Locks Engineer’s Day June 24, 2016
SAULT STE. MARIE – A Michigan landmark will open its doors to the public, when the Soo Locks hosts its annual open house Soo Locks Engineers Day on Friday June 24, 2016. The day celebrates the engineers who built the Soo Locks along with the men and women of the past and present who maintain the Locks.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invite people of all ages to come explore the Soo Locks and avail themselves the rare opportunity to walk across the Lock walls. These walls make it possible for freighters to traverse the 21-foot drop between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. To gain a real understanding of how this engineering marvel works only a visit will do.
“The Army Corps of Engineers and the SLVCA work hard to make sure the park and Visitors Center are both informative and enjoyable.” Hoath commented.
Relax and enjoy the day – Photo courtesy Summit Public Relations
“The Soo Locks complex offers such a unique glimpse at both our history and our way of life,” said 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. See Soo Locks webcams and ask any Boat Nerd they will tell you what a great experience it is to visit the Soo Locks.
Engineer’s Day festivities are held from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The gates are open to allow visitors across the Locks and into historically-important structures (Davis Building and the Administration Building) used solely for the work of one of the world’s busiest Lock systems.
Visitors are invited to stroll the Soo Locks Park, explore history in the visitor’s center and climb observation platforms as mammoth freighters ply the waters of the St. Marys River system. At the onsite Soo Locks Visitor’s Center new displays feature shipping and history themes. The exhibit “Ships of the Great Lakes” feature historic photographs and information on ships that have sailed the lakes since the early 1800s, including whaleboats, side-wheelers, steamers with barges, wooden freighters and the modern 1,000-foot freighters. “Sisters” is a display featuring those freighters constructed with the same plans and therefore considered to be sister ships. Several other displays are new this year, thanks to the hard work of the Soo Locks Visitors Center Association (SLVCA), a group of volunteers whose mission it is to continually update the center.
Up Close and Personal
The Soo Locks are located on West Portage Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie, MI adjacent to downtown shopping, restaurants and accommodations. The park and all facilities are open free to the public and parking is located on Portage Avenue.
Cloverland Electric Hydroelectric Power Plant Tour is part of the day’s festivities the public is invited to the Cloverland Electric Hydroelectric Power Plant Open House and LSSU Aquatics Lab. The plants guided tour walks through the operational 110 year old electric plant.
For more information about the Soo Lock’s Engineers Day, Cloverland Electric Hydroelectric Power Plant Open House or the International Bridge Walk on Saturday call 1-800- MISAULT (647-2858 ).
