Established in 1668, Sault Ste Marie is Michigan's oldest city. It is also the third oldest continuous
settlement in the United States.

The first European settlement was established by early French fur traders. Known to them as
Sault du Gastogne, it was changed in 1688 by the Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette to
Sault Ste Marie, in honor of the Virgin Mary.
There is debate about what the name translates to, but French speakers say "Sault" means, "to jump", making Sault Ste. Marie the place where people would com to "jump the St. Mary's".

The St. Mary's River is the only water connection between Lake Superior and the Great Lakes. However,
there is a section of the river known as the St. Mary's Rapids where the water falls about 21 feet from
the level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes. This natural barrier made it necessary for the construction of the Sault Locks, a project known as the St. Mary's Canal. The first lock was built in
1797, on the Canadian side, but was destroyed in the War of 1812. The US built its first lock in 1885.
Today therer are 4 locks in use, continuously being visited by ships and tourists alike.