Soo Canal Completed

The Soo Canal Opens the Door to the Great Lakes

Before massive freighters glided effortlessly between Lakes Huron and Superior, there were the turbulent St. Marys Rapids. These rapids were a major obstacle for ships. That changed forever on May 31, 1855, when the Soo Canal was completed. The canal made it possible for vessels to bypass the 22-foot elevation difference between the two Great Lakes.

Everyone’s heard of the Soo Locks, but they wouldn’t exist without the Soo Canal. The canal paved the way—literally—for Great Lakes commerce as we know it. The project was officially sanctioned by Michigan’s first governor, Stevens T. Mason, and was considered a monumental engineering accomplishment for its time. Built in just two years at a cost just shy of $1 million (about $34 million today), the canal represented the ambition and ingenuity of a young and growing America.

Inaugural Voyage

Just a month later, the first ship, the Illinois, made the inaugural voyage through the locks. This marked the beginning of a new era—no longer would goods need to be offloaded and carried around the rapids by hand or portage. Suddenly, the mineral wealth of Lake Superior could flow freely to market, and the Soo became one of the busiest and most strategically important waterways in the nation.

Today, what we call the Soo Locks is part of the broader St. Marys Falls Canal, stretching about 1.6 miles. The entire system is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who still offer free passage to ships—just as they have since taking over from the State of Michigan in 1881.

Recognized for its historical significance, the Soo Locks were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. More than a feat of engineering, the canal symbolizes the spirit of connection—between lakes, commerce, and communities.

So next time you watch a ship glide through the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, take a moment to appreciate the canal that made it all possible, completed on this day back in 1855.

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.