Tower of History

46°29′54″N 84°20′26″W / 46.4982°N 84.3405°W / 46.4982; -84.3405Completed1968Cost$1 millionOwnerLe Sault De Sainte Marie Historical Sites, Inc.Height210 ft (64 m)Technical detailsMaterialGlass, steel, and reinforced concreteFloor count21Lifts/elevators1Design and constructionArchitect(s)George RaffertyArchitecture firmProgressive Design Associates, Saint Paul, MinnesotaDeveloperSt. Mary's Catholic ChurchWebsitewww.saulthistoricsites.com/tower-of-history/

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

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

External links

• Media related to Tower of History at Wikimedia Commons
• Tower of History on Atlas Obscura