|
Welcome Message
from the
DDA Director
Lee Brown
Welcome to the City of Sault
Ste. Marie’s Downtown Development Authority’s Website. This website was
recently established to help visitors discover the assets that Downtown Sault
Ste. Marie (often referred to as just “Sault”) has to offer. Sault Ste. Marie
is the oldest city in Michigan, and the third oldest city West of Allegheny
Mountains. The city was established in 1668. But, the area was inhabited for
many years prior by the Ojibway Indians, and the French Voyagers who were the
first Europeans to set foot on the banks of the St. Mary’s River. The Sault is
full of a rich cultural and historic past and visitors and historical
researchers could spend many years researching all of the Sault’s past history.
The Downtown is a thriving
community full of independent business owners who provide excellent shopping and
dining experiences, and pride themselves on customer service. A destination for
entrepreneurs and tourists, downtown Sault is the commercial hub for the Eastern
Upper Peninsula. The downtown has experienced significant growth over the last
decade, and it now offers more than 130 retail businesses to satisfy all your
shopping needs.
This website is designed to
offer immediate information to all of its visitors. The downtown event’s
calendar will keep visitors updated as to what is happening in historic downtown
Sault. The site also lists all the businesses in the downtown, and it
provides needed contact information to help you stay in touch with your favorite
store. This site will also assist with the economic development by
displaying all the available rental and purchase properties in the downtown.
And, it will host pictures of the downtown from our historical past to present
day.
On behalf of the Downtown
Development Authority and Downtown Business Owners, thank you for visiting our
site and best wishes with your future travels.
Your friend,
Lee Brown
| |
Sault Ste. Marie
Downtown
Development Authority
|
|
|
|
Life in Sault Ste. Marie in the 1600's
Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan. Over the course of
history, the flags of several sovereign nations have flown over the
Sault.
Over 2,000 years ago, Native Americans began to
gather here for the wealth of fish and fur found along the rushing
waters of the wide, turbulent river that linked the Great Lakes of
Superior and Huron. Spring and fall were important seasons for these
original settlers, and they called the area “Bahweting,” or “The
Gathering Place.”
The area’s first full-time residents lived in
lodges framed of wood poles, sheathed with bark or animal hides. The
river below the rapids provided an abundance of fish for native
peoples, as well as for several tribes from throughout the region,
which migrated here during the peak fishing season. It continues to
remain a world-class spot for sport fishing.
(Photo courtesy of Mackinac State Historical
Parks) |
|
In the 1600’s, French missionaries and fur
traders began to venture into the beautiful territory. The traders
began calling the wild area Sault du Gastogne. In 1668, the
legendary Jesuit missionary and explorer Fr. Jacques Marquette
renamed this burgeoning European settlement Sault Ste. Marie, in
honor of the Virgin Mary—the first “city” in the Great Lakes region.
While there is some debate on the exact meaning
of “Sault,” scholars of early French note that the word translates
into “jump,” referring to the place where one needs to “jump” or
“put into” the St. Mary’s River. This translation relates to the
treacherous rapids and cascades that fall over 20 feet from the
level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes. Hundreds of
years ago, this prohibited boat traffic and necessitated an overland
portage from one lake to the other. This is how Portage Avenue, the
main street running along the river, acquired its name. |
 |
|
 Natives
of the Sault Tribe are shown here gathered around the "Baweting
Drum" at a modern-day pow-wow. These gatherings have been going on
along the banks of the St. Mary's River for hundreds...perhaps
thousands of years.
(Photo courtesy of Al Kamuda of the Sault Tribe) |
Life in Sault Ste. Marie during
the 1800s
|
 |
Due to the strategic location of the river
and the abundant natural resources found here, the French and
British often fought over the area and the right to trade with
Native Americans in the 1700’s.
In 1820, the Treaty of the Sault was signed,
which turned control over to the United States in 1823. Fort
Brady was built on the grounds of the old French Fort Repentigny,
as the new Americans were concerned about possible British
invasions from nearby Canada. This fort was eventually abandoned
in the 1890’s, and a new Fort Brady was constructed on the
grounds of present-day Lake Superior State University.
Throughout all this turbulent history, the St. Mary’s River
continued to dominate the life and events of Sault Ste. Marie—as
it continues to do so today. |
|
The world-famous Soo Locks, which overcome
the natural barriers to navigation, continue to be an
engineering marvel, and a source of great pride for residents.
The first lock was constructed in the late 1700’s on the
Canadian side of the river by the Northwest Fur Company, but was
destroyed during the War of 1812. Other primitive lock systems
followed until 1850, when the present-day lock system began to
be developed by civil engineers.
|
 |
The Soo Locks System
|
Life in Sault Ste. Marie during the 1900s
(Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers)
|
 |
The federal government took control of the
property and the lock system in the 1870’s. Their stewardship
continues today, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Soo Locks are the busiest locks in the world, and include the
largest lock in the Western Hemisphere, completed in 1968.
(Photo courtesy of Travel Michigan) |
|
Throughout this colorful history and on into the
future, the roots of our heritage go back to the native residents of
the area.
Many, many stories of this fascinating tale can
be seen at the areas numerous historical museums and displays. We
invite you to spend as much time as you can...we're very proud to
share our story with you!
 |
(Photo courtesy of Al Kamuda, Sault Tribe) |
|
| |
Upcoming Events
3rd Annual Pub500 February 4, 2010
Yooper Winter
Madness February 27,
2010
For more details click here
Our Office
Phone: 906-635-6973
Fax: 906-635-6974
Email: saultdda@sault.com
|