History of the soo locks

Before the Locks

Jul 20, 1845

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxBefore the locks the boats would have to get out of the water put on rollers and rolled down what we npw know as portage (Main) St.

Building the locks

Jul 22, 1853

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxhttp://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxDuring the building of the locks, a lot of people were paid to work on the locks to help get it done as soon as possible. The project designer was Charles Harvey.

First Lock

Jul 8, 1855

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxFirst lock opens, operated by the State of Michigan.

Weitzel Lock

Jun 5, 1881

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxFirst lock in the world to fill and empty from the bottom.

Soo Locks

Period: Mar 8, 1885 to Jan 1, 2000

First Poe Lock

Aug 8, 1896

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspx

Davis an Sabin Locks are open

Jan 8, 1919

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxThird and fourth locks both open by 1919.

MacArthur Lock Opens

Jul 11, 1943

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxCarl D. Bradley opens the MacArthur Lock.

Second Poe Lock

Jun 9, 1969

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxhttp://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxhttp://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspx Vessel sizes continued to increase and began to push the limits of even the MacArthur Lock by the 1950s. To meet the growing demand for larger and larger vessels, planning began in 1958 for a larger and deeper lock to replace the 60+ year old Poe Lock.

Last Boat for 2014 season

Jan 18, 2015

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxmain cardo is iron ore, and coal the boats carried nearly 80 million tons.

Boats under the brige

Jan 7, 2016

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SooLocksVisitorCenter/SooLocksHistory.aspxIt takes freighters about 7-8 hoursFrom the mackinac bridge.
From Detroit or Chicago to the locks is about 24 hours. From Duluth to the locks is about 28 hours