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From Michigan History Magazine
The Gathering Place
Today, Sault Ste. Marie is a pretty town
located along the Marys River. It has many restaurants, boat tours and
gift shops, but as Michigan’s oldest settlement, it has a long history.
More than 2,000 years ago, Native
Americans settled at Sault Ste. Marie because it was a good place to
gather fish and furs. In the mid-1600s, French missionaries explored
the area. In 1668, Father Jacques Marquette built a mission near the
river and named it Sainte Marie du Sault. The French name means “St.
Mary of the Rapids.” However, it is often just called “The Sault”
(pronounced “Soo”).
In 1783 the St. Marys River became part of the international boundary between British Canada and the United States.
In 1820, Michigan territorial governor
Lewis Cass obtained land from the Ojibwa along the St. Marys River.
Fort Brady was built so that the Americans could protect this strategic
place from the British who lived across the river in Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario. Fort Brady closed after World War II. Today, Lake Superior
State University is located on the grounds of the former fort.
The importance of Sault Ste. Marie changed
with the opening of the Soo Locks in 1855. Today, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers operates and maintains this important waterway. The locks,
which have been expanded over the years, remain one of Michigan’s most
popular tourist destinations.
For more great stories on Michigan’s past, look to Michigan History and Michigan History for Kids magazines. For more information or a free trial issue, call 800-366-3703 or visit www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.
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