A History of the Soo Locks
Includes slide presentations of maps, history, historical photos, and an explanation of the lock operations.
 

A Strait Named Soo
An article begins on page 3 of the American Canal Society newsletter.

Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the Year 1906
A brief history, description and statistics on commerce and passengers using the canal begins on page 1415.

At the Soo - Leaving the Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
A historic photo of the canal and locks.
 

Barge at The World Famous Locks
A historic postcard of the canal and locks.
 

Chronicling America – St. Mary’s River Canal
A set of historical newspaper articles which make reference to the canal.

Chronicling America – Soo Locks
A set of historical newspaper articles which make reference to the locks.

Congressional Record, V. 151, Pt. 10, June 20 to June 27, 2005
A speech commemorating the 150th anniversary of the locks begins on page cixxvii.

Climatological Data, Michigan – 1899
A commentary on the impact of locks on commerce is on page 112.

Digital Public Library of America
Links to historical photos.

Great Ships on the Great Lakes: A Maritime History
A brief history and description of the locks is on page 59.   Includes a historical illustration and current photo.

Greatest Canal Traffic in the World, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
A historic photo of the canal and locks.
 

History of Soo Locks – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 

History of Soo Locks video

Historical Pictures – The First Soo Locks – The State Lock

Hollowed Ground: Copper Mining and Community Building on Lake Superior, 1840s-1990s
A brief history of the locks is on page 33.

How the Soo Locks Were Made

Illustrated History of the Soo Locks video

Improvement of the St. Mary's River and Canal: Memorial to Congress – 1879
A Memorial presented by the Marquette Iron Ore Association.

Indian Names and History of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal

McDougall's Great Lakes Whalebacks
Historical photos of whaleback freightors at the locks are on pages 20, 41, 45, 46, 54, 67, 75, 77and 78.

Michigan Biographical Dictionary
A biography of Alfred Noble, who was responsible for improvement of the canal in the 1870s and 1880s, begins on page 165.

Michigan Encyclopedia
A brief history of the locks begins on page 482.

Michigan. Imperoyal Sarnia going through the locks at Sault Ste. Marie
A historical photo of the locks.

Michigan. Ship in the locks at Sault Sainte Marie
A historical photo of the locks.

New York Public Library Digital Collection
A collection of historical photos.

Northern Roots
The role of African Americans in the construction of the canal begins on page 22.

Ore Boats Locking Through Canal
A historic postcard of the canal and locks.
 

Queen of the Lakes
A brief history of the canal and the beginning of shipments of iron ore begins on page 21.

Sailing Directions for Lake Superior, St. Marys River, Straits of Mackinac – 1894
Descriptions of the current and planned enlargements of the canals begins on page 37.

Sault Locks (St. Mary’s Falls Ship Canal)

A brief history and description of the canal.

Shining Big Sea Water: The Story of Lake Superior
Includes a brief history of the original canal's construction and a historical photo.

Soo Canal, 1875
A historic photo of the canal and locks.
 

Soo Locks
A description and history of the locks and canal. Historical and current photos and links to related sites.
 

Soo Locks
A brief history and description of the locks.  Current photos.

Soo Locks
A brief history and description of the locks.   Historical and current photos and maps.

Soo Locks at 150
A brief history of the locks and canals.
 

Soo Locks Celebration - 1905
A historical photo of the locks.
 

Soo Locks handed over to Michigan in 1855

A brief history of the locks.

Soo Locks History

Soo Locks Photos
A gallery of photos of the canal and locks.
 

Soo Locks Postcards
 

Soo Locks Postcards

Soo Locks - St. Mary's River Canal Sault Ste. Marie Michigan
A brief history of the locks and canal. Current photos.
 

Spotlight Project
A brief history of the locks. Current photos.
 

Ste. Marie Ship Canal
A historic photo of the canal and locks.
 

St. Mary's Falls Canal
A brief history and description of the canal.

St. Mary's Falls Canal
An article begins on page 6 of the American Canal Society newsletter.

St. Mary's Falls Canal Documents

St. Marys Falls Canal Historical Marker

Photo and text of a marker in Chippewa County.

St. Marys River
A description and history of the river, including the locks and canal. Links to related sites.
 

St. Mary’s River Shipping Lanes
A brief history and description of the locks.    Historical  and current photos.

St. Mary's Ship Canal
An 1853 New York Times article about the canal.
 

St. Mary's Ship Canal Images
Link to a gallery of historical and current photos.
 

Steamboats on the Lakes
A brief history of the U.S. and Canadian canals begins on page 37.   Includes a historical photo.

Tales of Michigan
A brief history of the first canal begins on  page 1.

The Golden Dream: A History of the St. Lawrence Seaway
A brief history of the canal begins on page 66; a historical map of the U.S. and Canadian canals is on page 83; a brief history of the 1870s upgrade of the Soo Locks begins on page 84.

The History of the Upper Midwest:  An Overview
A history of the timber and mining industies of northern Michigan in the 1800s, and the role of the canal in the development of the mining industry.

The Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
A historical photo of the locks and canal.
 

The Mighty Soo: Construction of the Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
 

The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes
A brief history of the various iterations of locks over time is on page 36.

The Saint Marys Falls Canal; exercises at the semi-centennial celebration at Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, August 2 and 3, 1905, together with a history of the canal

The "Soo" Canal
A historical photo of the locks and canal.
 

The Soo Locks – 1978
Includes a brief history of the locks.

The Soo Locks – One Hundred Years Ago – Summer 1955

A brief history of the locks.

The Soo Locks: Past, present, future

The World's Great Canals.Data Furnished by Treasury Bureau of Statistics -- St. Mary's Falls Canals Do the Largest Business
A 1902 New York Times article about a U. S. Treasury bureau report providing statistics about the commerce of the greatest canals in the world.
 

To build a canal: Sault Ste. Marie, 1853-1854 and after
Link to the .pdf file of the book about the history of the canal.