Sault Ste Marie, Ontario has a rich history, and it is celebrated in many ways throughout the city. Local residents and tourists are encouraged to visit as many of these great attractions as possible to fully appreciate the city's important past.
Sault Ste Marie Museum
Open year-round, the Sault Ste Marie Museum is three-floors dedicated to both local and national history. Permanent exhibits include the Military Gallery and the Russell H. Ramsey Sports History Hall of Fame, as well as the Marine Exhibit.
Perhaps of most interest to local visitors, however, is the Skylight Gallery, which shows in great detail the history of Sault Ste Marie and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to the 1960s. This exhibit includes such artifacts as explorer’s maps, native canoes, and large pieces of rock displaying the ancient pictographs from a nearby bay.
While the exhibits within the museum are interesting enough, also of note is the history of the building itself. Originally constructed as a post office in 1902, the clock tower and building were the bustling heart of the city until the population grew too large, and a larger post office was needed. The clock tower still stands as part of the museum today, and much of the first floor is dedicated to telling the story of the building’s rich history.
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
Like the Sault Ste Marie Museum, the Sault’s Bushplane Centre also has an interesting history. Located on the shore of St Mary’s River, the hangar used by the Centre was originally used by the Ontario Provincial Air Service, later known as the Fire and Aviation Division of Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources.
While the Bushplane Heritage Centre started out small in 1987, it has since grown, and is today home to numerous exhibits, including displays of twenty aircraft, and the very important Forest Fire Prevention Display.
Kids are sure to love the Bushplane Centre, especially if they get a chance to take off on the Flight Adventure Simulator, which offers three different four-minute flights. The Children’s Flight Centre also offers many other arcade-style games for kids to enjoy.
Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site
Built in 1814 for Charles Oakes Ermatinger, the Ermatinger Old Stone House has been restored to demonstrate life as it was for visitors and residents of the house in the early nineteenth-century. This is done through the use of panels, displays (including Period Rooms), and costumes, as well as demonstrations.
The Clergue Blockhouse is located right next to the Old Stone House, and is shown as it would have been in the early twentieth century when Francis H Clergue resided there. Both houses are surrounded by gardens similar to those of the original occupants.
St Mary’s River Marine Heritage Centre
Appropriately, the Marine Heritage Centre is situated, not on the shores of the St Mary’s River, but docked within it. The St Mary’s River Heritage Centre can be found inside the Norgoma, a large boat docked next to the Bondar Pavillion. The Norgoma was originally launched in 1950 to supply isolated communities around the Sault and to provide cruises, but was converted into a car ferry thirteen years later. In 1980, the ship was converted into the floating museum that can be seen today.
In time, the Norgoma will be restored as closely as possible to its original state, but today, it remains a fascinating piece of nautical history.
Like to learn more about tourism in Sault Ste Marie? Learn about The Arts in Sault Ste Marie or Eco-Tourism in the Sault.
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