The Soo Locks

The St. Mary's River is the only water connection between Lake Superior andthe other Great Lakes. There is a section of the river known as the St. Mary's Rapids where the water falls about 21 feet from the level of Lake Superior tothe level of the lower lakes. This natural barrier through navigation madenecessary the construction of the locks project known as the St. Mary's Falls Canal.

The world-famous Soo Locks form a passage for deep-draft ships around therapids in the St. Mary's River. Before white men came to the area, the Ojibwa Indians who lived nearby portaged their canoes around the "Bawating"(rapids) to reach Lake Superior from the St. Mary's River.

Early pioneers arriving in the territory were forced to carry their canoesaround the rapids. When settlement of the Northwest Territory brought increasedtrade and large boats, it became necessary to unload the boats, haul the cargoesaround the rapids in wagons, and reload in other boats.

In 1797, the Northwest Fur Company constructed a navigation lock 38 feetlong on the Canadian side of the river for small boats. This lock remained inuse until destroyed in the War of 1812. Freight and boats were again portagedaround the rapids.

Congress passed an act in 1852 granting 750,000 acres of public land tothe State of Michigan as compensation to the company that would build a lockpermitting waterborne commerce between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes.The Fairbanks Scale Company, which had extensive mining interests, in the upperpeninsula, undertook this challenging construction project in 1853.

In spite of adverse conditions, Fairbanks' aggressive accountant, CharlesT. Harvey, completed a system of two locks, in tandem, each 350 feet long,within the 2 year deadline set by the State of Michigan. On May 31, 1855, thelocks were turned over to the state and designated as the State Lock.

Boats which passed through the State Lock were required to pay a toll offour cents per ton, until 1877, when the toll was reduced to three cents.

Within a few years, commerce through the canal had grown to nationalimportance, and the need for new locks became clear. The funds required exceededthe state's capabilities, and thus, in 1881 the locks were transferred to theUnited States government, and were placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps has operated the locks, toll free, since thattime.