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

Construction of the Power Canal

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

1. Construction of the Power Canal Marker

Inscription. The man-made power canal that bisects the city of Sault Ste. Marie was constructed from 1898 to 1902. The flow of water from the upper St. Mary's river through the canal still generates electricity at the Edison Sault hydroelectric plant, also completed in 1902. The canal is almost two and one-half miles long, 220 feet wide and five feet deep. The canal basin is made up of areas of solid rock and rock earth, sand, and clay areas which have a specially designed timber lining. The narrow width of the canal requires an extremely high flow velocity. Based on flow capacity, when it was completed this power canal was the largest in the world.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 46° 29.775′ N, 84° 20.928′ W. Marker is in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in Chippewa County. Marker is at the intersection of Ashmun Street (Business Interstate 75) and Dawson Street, on the right when traveling south on Ashmun Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sault Sainte Marie MI 49783, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Early 1900's Street Scene (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); War Memorial Hospital (about 600 feet away); Central Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); Chippewa County Courthouse

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Chippewa County Court House (approx. ¼ mile away); Chippewa County World War II Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Chippewa County Persian Gulf Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); "The Wolf of Rome" (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sault Ste. Marie.

Also see . . . Edison Sault Power Canal. Excerpt:

The Edison Sault Power Canal supplies the Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant, a Cloverland Electric Cooperative hydroelectric plant, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Excavation of the power canal began in September 1898 and was completed in June 1902. The canal and hydroelectric complex were named a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1983.

(Submitted on January 17, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

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

2. Construction of the Power Canal Marker

Construction of the Power Canal image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Henry Jackson, circa 1902

3. Construction of the Power Canal

End of the power canal as it leads into the power plant from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

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

4. Power Canal

This bridge is just south of the marker on Ashmun Street and runs over the power canal.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 18, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.