Tower of History

The Tower of History is an observation tower with museum exhibits spread across two levels in Sault Ste. Marie. From the top deck, visitors see the Soo Locks, St. Marys River, and the communities on both sides of the US-Canadian border.

The tower was built in 1968 as a memorial to the French missionaries who founded the first European settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. Those missionaries arrived centuries earlier and set the foundation for what would eventually become this region.

The museum displays tell stories of the Native peoples who lived here and the French missionaries who arrived in the region. You can see how these different groups shaped what the settlement became.

An elevator system carries visitors to the observation deck, making the experience accessible to all. Clear weather days offer the best views of the surrounding waterways and landscape.

The tower offers a rare vantage point for watching one of North America's busiest lock systems in operation. From this height, you can observe large ships passing through and maneuvering between different water levels.

Location: Sault Ste. Marie

Inception: 1968

GPS coordinates: 46.49820,-84.34050

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:06