Sault Ste. Marie in Chippewa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Early Hotels on Water Street

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 3, 2023

1. Early Hotels on Water Street Marker

Inscription. By the mid-1830s, there were at least two hotels on Water Street. One, known for a time as the Van Anden House and later as the Chippewa House, was on the southeast corner of Water and present day Ashmun streets. The other eventually became the Michigan Exchange Hotel, located a block west of the Chippewa. While very rough at first, they improved over time, and other hotels, of varying standards, would eventually join them. The Michigan Exchange burned to the ground in the big Water Street fire of 1886. The Chippewa House survived that fire, only to succumb to a second, even larger fire in 1896 that destroyed most of the buildings on the street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 46° 30.041′ N, 84° 20.804′ W. Marker is in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in Chippewa County. It is at the intersection of West Water Street and River Street, on the right when traveling west on West Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 West Water Street, Sault Sainte Marie MI 49783, United States of America.

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Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and on Lake Superior’s South Shore Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Water Street Businesses in the Late 1800s (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Saw Mill (about 500 feet away); Historic Sault Ste. Marie (about 500 feet away); The Elijah B. Allen House (about 600 feet away); Making a Grand Entrance (about 600 feet away); St. Marys Falls Canal (about 700 feet away); Governor Chase S. Osborn Memorial (about 700 feet away); Chippewa County Courthouse (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sault Ste. Marie.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 3, 2023

2. Early Hotels on Water Street Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.