Tower of History
| Tower of History | |
|---|---|
 Tower of History in 2021 | |
  Location within Michigan  Tower of History (the United States) | |
| Former names | Tower of Missionaries |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation tower |
| Architectural style | Modern architecture |
| Address | 326 E. Portage Avenue |
| Town or city | Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
| Country | US |
| Coordinates | 46°29′54″N 84°20′26″W / 46.4982°N 84.3405°W |
| Completed | 1968 |
| Cost | $1 million |
| Owner | Le Sault De Sainte Marie Historical Sites, Inc. |
| Height | 210 ft (64 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Glass, steel, and reinforced concrete |
| Floor count | 21 |
| Lifts/elevators | 1 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | George Rafferty |
| Architecture firm | Progressive Design Associates, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Developer | St. Mary's Catholic Church |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Tower of History (originally the Tower of Missionaries) is a 210-foot (64 m) observation tower in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[1][2][3] Located at 326 E. Portage Avenue,[1] it was the tallest observation tower in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when completed in 1968.[4][5][6] The tower was built in a modernist style and consists of three vertical, trapezoid-shaped columns that support five cantilevered observation platforms.[7] It provides a panoramic, 360-degree view of the Soo Locks, the St. Mary's River, Lake Superior, and cities on both the American and Canadian sides of the border.[1][2][8] The view extends for roughly 20 miles (32 km);[6][9] in total, approximately 1,200 square miles (3,100 km2) are visible from the tower.[10]
History
[edit]
The Tower of History was built in 1968 by St. Mary's Catholic Church as part of a never-completed shrine to Catholic missionaries active in the Upper Peninsula that was to be named the Shrine of the Missionaries.[3][11][12] It was designed by George Rafferty of Saint Paul, Minnesota-based Progressive Design Associates, while Frank Kacmarcik served as the project's art consultant.[4] The tower was built on the site of Jacques Marquette's first log house and chapel.[4][5][6] It was initially estimated to cost just $50,000 to build, although this figure soon ballooned to over $600,000 once recommendations from the project's architect and consultants were factored in;[12] ultimately, the total cost rose to nearly $1 million.[4][6]
The tower was planned to be complemented by a new church building and community center, although St. Mary's ultimately ended funding for the project.[10] From the beginning, it was conceived as both a historical and a tourist attraction.[13] The tower was originally intended to house a museum to 17th- and 18th-century missionaries as well as be connected to the planned new church building, effectively functioning as its steeple.[2][12] Initially called the Tower of Missionaries, it was renamed the Tower of History to broaden its appeal to visitors.[5] The tower was initially projected to cover its costs by visitors paying $1 or $2 to experience the view from the observation platforms, but according to parishioner and building committee member Paul Ripley, the unforeseen oil crisis precluded the tourism growth that they expected.[12]
In 1971, due to the financial problems that St. Mary's was enduring, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette assumed responsibility for the tower.[14][15] In 1972, its operation was reorganized and it became directed by a state-wide board of directors. Also at that time, the tower employed 10 college students as workers.[16] By 1975, it was attracting over 40,000 visitors a year.[7] In 1979, an advisory board to the Diocese of Marquette's administrative board recommended either closing the tower or donating it to a civic organization.[15] In 1980, the diocese donated it to Le Sault De Sainte Marie Historical Sites, Inc. (Sault Historic Sites).[10][14][15]
The Tower of History includes museum exhibits about Catholic missionaries, local history, and Native American history.[1][2][3] The museum exhibits and a video presentation are located on the tower's Lower Level, while three separate viewing platforms (both open-air and glassed-in) and additional exhibit space are located on the Upper Level.[9][10] The tower features an express elevator that ascends to the viewing platforms in 45 seconds.[7] The Tower of History is open to the public between mid-May and mid-October.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Westervelt, Amy (2012). Michigan's Upper Peninsula: A Great Destination. Woodstock, Vermont: The Countryman Press. pp. 73–74. ISBN 978-1-58157-138-7 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e Bogue, Margaret Beattie (2007). Around the Shores of Lake Superior: A Guide to Historic Sites. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-299-22174-4 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c Forster, Matt (2009). Backroads & Byways of Michigan: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions. Woodstock, Vermont: The Countryman Press. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-88150-831-4.
- ^ a b c d "Soo Shrine to Early Missionaries: Tower Marks Dawn Of State's History". The Herald-Palladium. St. Joseph, Michigan. July 1, 1975. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ a b c "American Soo tourist tower a tall headache for owners". Traverse City Record-Eagle. July 14, 1975. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b c d "Tower of History 21 stories high". The Times Herald. Port Huron, Michigan. August 10, 1975. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b c "21-Story Tower Looms Over Sault Ste. Marie". Lansing State Journal. September 7, 1975. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Heim, Michael (2004). Exploring America's Highways: Michigan Trip Trivia. Wabasha, Minnesota: T.O.N.E. Publishing. pp. 93. ISBN 0-97443-582-1 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b "Tower of History". Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Tower of History". Sault Historic Sites. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ Counts, Jeff (2011). Explorer's Guide Michigan. Woodstock, Vermont: The Countryman Press. p. 297. ISBN 978-0-88150-949-6 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d Kresnak, Jack (May 6, 1984). "Tower a tribute to good intentions". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Bishop Salatka Visits Tower Of History". The Evening News. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. May 19, 1972. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b "Diocese donates tower to civic group". Lansing State Journal. March 6, 1980. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ a b c "Diocese donates history shrine". The Times Herald. Port Huron, Michigan. March 15, 1980. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Sault Tower Of History Story Told". The Evening News. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. July 18, 1972. Retrieved April 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
External links
[edit]
Media related to Tower of History at Wikimedia Commons- Tower of History on Atlas Obscura
