Picture yourself as a member of the Corps of Engineers, participating in Engineers Day, at SOO LOCKS, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan! I first heard of Engineers Day when I contacted the Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Visitor's Bureau (www.saultstemarie.com), for information about the annual International Bridge Day Walk. Their staff member advised me to secure lodging well in advance of the event, because it was also the weekend of Engineers Day. I have family members that are electrical engineers, chemical engineers, and mechanical engineers, so that is what came to mind at the time. It was not until months later, after reading through the material that the Visitors Bureau mailed me, that I realized their Engineers Day refers to the CORPS OF ENGINEERS (www.usace.army.mil), that manages the Soo Locks, in Sault Ste. Marie. Even though I live among four separate lakes managed by the Corps of Engineers, locals here just use the phrase, "The Corps", and very seldom include the word, "engineers". But isn't this one reason we travel--to broaden our horizons and vocabulary! There were photo boards set up on the day of the event, so we could picture ourself as an engineer, doing marine work off the bow of a ship, and wearing a yellow hard hat. They were even giving pretend, "plastic" hard hats, and Helen is shown wearing one of the souvenir hard hats.
On Engineers Day, the city street adjacent to the Soo Locks (West Portage Avenue), is closed to vehicle traffic, between Ferris Street and Osborn Blvd. This turns the street into a avenue for vendors, community organizations, and various agencies, to have displays with information and give aways. The photo shows that the street vendors are wheel-chair accessible.
One very helpful items that a local skin care salon had provided, was a dispenser providing free sunscreen. I have been to other events that were giving away sunscreen, but it was always in little plastic tubes. The advantage of the bulk dispenser is it reduces the amount of discarded plastic, going into landfills.
One of the displays set up by a medical provider, included a life-size human skeleton!
Another booth, staffed by members of the Christian Motorcycle Association (www.cmausa.org), was giving out physical water, as well as Scripture tracts telling about the "Living Water". I first became aware of this organization, when my husband and I rode our Harley-Davidson Motorcycle to the big biker event held every August, in Sturgis, South Dakota. Since then, I see their logo often, because its headquarters are in Hatfield, Arkansas!
A local church was also there to greet visitors, and provide assistance as needed.
Just outside the high metal security fencing surrounding the locks, was a different kind of "fencing" . There were two guys in full fencing gear, and fencing swords, giving a demonstration. They stopped long enough to let me hold one of their swords, and get my photo made with them!
To get beyond the actual security fence, we had to go through a security check point. I was told the small Northface backpack I was carrying was not allowed, and some of my companions were also carrying inappropriate bags. So one person in our group gathered up the "contraband", and made a quick trip back to stow it in the car that was parked a few blocks away. I later read on the information sheet about the event, only clear bags were allowed, and no diaper bags. Also, only strapless wallets, with a maximum of 4.5" x 6.5". Since the Soo Locks are such a vital "choke point" in the movement of freight through the Great Lakes, and beyond, to the Atlantic Ocean, it makes sense that keeping them secure, is very important.
Once we got through security, the lady at the information booth for the International Bridge Walk, was very helpful in explaining what to expect the next day, when we did the walk. She even assured us that she would look for us the next day, and sure enough, when she saw us on the bridge, pushing Helen in the wheel chair, and wearing our matching tee shirts, she remembered us, and reminded us of her promise to look for the Arkansas gals on Saturday! It was probably easy for her to remember us, because she took our picture, and our Southern accents were very recognizable!
The Corps of Engineers had one of its newest vessels on the water, in front of the viewing platform. In fact, the official christening of the H.J. Lawson, was held on the day we were there, in conjunction with the 2026 Engineers Day.
The climate controlled visitors viewing building for the Soo Locks, has an upper and lower floor.
When I saw this photo another tourist took of our group, I noticed the white tent with people in it, on the other side of the Corps boat, and I wondered if I had been wrong about not being able to walk across the locks in 2026 It was not until I saw the television news report later, that I learned that tent was for the officials and honorees, attending the official christening of the boat that day. The television report reiterated the fact, that regular visitors could not cross the locks this year, because of on-going construction. When I visited the historic locks in Ottowa, Canada, I got to walk across the locks at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as Rideau Canal (see blog dated October 24, 2024, in the archives), so if I can live until 2030, when the Soo Locks construction is said to be finished, maybe I can make a return visit, to walk across them, as well!
An anchor is the universal symbol for "boat life", so of course, we needed a photo with a big anchor!
Next stop on Engineers Day, was a short drive through town, which gave us a chance to see a public art sculpture at an intersection, depicting a large eagle's nest, along with two sculptures of America's national bird--the Bald Eagle. It is not surprising that this waterway attracts waterfowl, and the sign alerts us that we are approaching the "Shore to Shore Birding Trail".
The information sheet for Engineers Day, advertised that there was to be an Open House at the LSSU CFRE building, from 10 am - 4 pm (wwwlssu.edu). The initials stand for Lake Superior State University, Center for Research and Education.
We were especially eager to see this place, because we knew someone who had an office in this building, and she was there to open the door for her grandmother, when we arrived!
One of the CFRE Ambassadors was eager to show us a live lamprey, and explain their role in the marine ecosystems of this area. The ambassador's actions demonstrated that the center is inclusive for those with visual impairments, and was encouraging the visually-impaired person, to add the sense of touch, to the learning experience.
I noticed the Coast Guard personnel that have offices in this building, were standing on the perimeter, to observe how we reacted to touching the lamprey. Everything at the CFRE building is wheel-chair accessible, and their goal, is for the learning experience to be inclusive for all.
In the photo below, two of the Coast Guard staff are giving a demonstration of a device used to clean up foreign substance spills in the freshwater of the Great Lakes.
This photo shows three generations of a water-loving family: Coast Guard officer Tori, along with her grandmother and aunt.
The CFRE center has a demonstration table, connected to a water spigot, that is used to show how water flow causes changes in the landscape. One can also see the effect of obstructions to flow and pollution effects.
There is a large freshwater tank, and Diana took this photo of me pointing to a sturgeon, which the indigenous people called "The King of Fish".
The glass window wall connects to an open deck, and nature trail, adjacent to the St. Mary's River. The buildings visible on the far shore, are on the Canadian side of St. Mary's River.
It was interesting to see the microscope pointing into a water sample, with the view being projected onto a video screen above. The tiny bit of water was full of little "critters" swiftly propelling themselves through the water.
I was curious to hear about the system used here to collect water samples, because I am part of an organization (www.ArkansasMasterNaturalists.org) that has a Stream Team, that routinely measures water quality on designated streams in our area, and reports the results to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. What we do is called "Citizen Science", but these guys are REAL marine scientists!
The view from the balcony of the second story of the building, shows not only the exhibits below, but also the expansive scene beyond the glass wall.
One of the CFRE ambassadors wanted to demonstrate a robotic arm they had built that could perform designated tasks.
Helen asked the robot to draw a fish, so it was fun watching the machine mark out a fish drawing, and put her initials on it!
The CFRE balcony also gave a great view of a group of kayakers on the St. Mary's River!
The reason we were able to visit the second story of the CFRE builing is because that is where Tori's Coast Guard office is located. Her Master's Degree is in Environmental Science, so it makes sense that government personnel concerned with guarding the marine environment of the Great Lakes, would be in a building dedicated to environmental research and education.
When I saw a plaque in her office related to the time she was stationed in Mobile, Alabama, it reminded me that this same group had visited her at her Mobile location, when we were on a kayaking trip to that area. (See Pascagoula River Expedition, June 15, 2021, in the blog archives)
Tori has her own private balcony on the second story, just steps from her corner office. She very kindly let me go out on it, and when I asked if I could take her picture on her balcony, she said "no", but she would take my photo. So here it is!
When I was out on the second story balcony, I observed a fisherman walking by. His net was so large, it could hold a small man, so I was reminded of one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses from Matthew 4:19, that says, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men".
The quarter-mile long building adjacent to the CFRE building is the Cloverland Electric Cooperative power house, also known as the Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant. It is a historic civil engineering landmark, completed in 1902, and supplies power to the Easter Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Tori's balcony also gave a great view of the on-going construction at the Soo Locks, as well as the International Bridge beyond the locks.
Although I did not notice it when we first entered the CFRE building, as we were leaving I saw they had a birch bark canoe hanging from the ceiling. This was the main mode of transportation on the St. Mary's River to the indigenous people of long ago.
The mascot for our Arkansas hiking group (WHO) and kayaking group (WHOyakers) is an owl, so I noticed there was an owl "trophy" at the front desk of the CFRE building. It was awarded by the Michigan Alliance For Environmental and Outdoor Education, to CFRE to honor their impact by significantly enhancing the quality and availability of environmental and outdoor education. Based on all the information I learned at their Open House for Engineers Day, I would say it is a well-deserved award!
Getting to be in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for the 2026 Engineers Day gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!! Tricia
The reason we were able to visit the second story of the CFRE builing is because that is where Tori's Coast Guard office is located. Her Master's Degree is in Environmental Science, so it makes sense that government personnel concerned with guarding the marine environment of the Great Lakes, would be in a building dedicated to environmental research and education. 
When I saw a plaque in her office related to the time she was stationed in Mobile, Alabama, it reminded me that this same group had visited her at her Mobile location, when we were on a kayaking trip to that area. (See Pascagoula River Expedition, June 15, 2021, in the blog archives)
Tori has her own private balcony on the second story, just steps from her corner office. She very kindly let me go out on it, and when I asked if I could take her picture on her balcony, she said "no", but she would take my photo. So here it is!
When I was out on the second story balcony, I observed a fisherman walking by. His net was so large, it could hold a small man, so I was reminded of one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses from Matthew 4:19, that says, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". 
The quarter-mile long building adjacent to the CFRE building is the Cloverland Electric Cooperative power house, also known as the Saint Marys Falls Hydropower Plant. It is a historic civil engineering landmark, completed in 1902, and supplies power to the Easter Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 
Tori's balcony also gave a great view of the on-going construction at the Soo Locks, as well as the International Bridge beyond the locks. 
The mascot for our Arkansas hiking group (WHO) and kayaking group (WHOyakers) is an owl, so I noticed there was an owl "trophy" at the front desk of the CFRE building. It was awarded by the Michigan Alliance For Environmental and Outdoor Education, to CFRE to honor their impact by significantly enhancing the quality and availability of environmental and outdoor education. Based on all the information I learned at their Open House for Engineers Day, I would say it is a well-deserved award! 
Getting to be in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for the 2026 Engineers Day gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!! Tricia
Ozark Isle started out as a Corp of Engineers campground within Bull Shoals Lake in northern Arkansas. It was originally the top of a mountain that was made somewhat inaccessible, when it became surrounded by water, due to the dam across the White River, that led to the formation of Bull Shoals Lake. For this reason, a "causeway" was constructed by the Corp of Engineers that would connect the isolated island, the short distance that would link it to the "mainland". 
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