Soo Locks Engineers Day 2025 will be June 27

 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau, the United States Coast Guard, the Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education, Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and Superior Health Systems are hosting open house events for the 2025 Soo Locks Engineers Day on June 27. 

 Visitors are welcome into the Soo Locks facility and across the MacArthur Lock from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 27. 

 Engineers Day honors the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ June 16, 1775, birthday. The Corps of Engineers is proud to celebrate 250 years of service to the nation. Since the beginning, the Corps of Engineers has been at the forefront of engineering excellence, responding to the nation’s most complex challenges with unmatched expertise and dedication.

 “The Soo Locks are a vital part of our community’s history. Engineers Day lets us celebrate the history and ingenuity behind the Soo Locks,” said Linda Hoath, executive director of the Sault Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Over the past few years, we’ve helped grow Engineers Day into an event that involves the whole downtown. We look forward to welcoming visitors and residents alike to downtown for Engineers Day.”

 “We are continuing the requirement for all bags coming into the Soo Locks to be clear,” Jason Wojnaroski Soo Project Office Assistant Operations Manager said. “Clear bags will allow park security to quickly inspect bags and assist with making this a fun and safe event for everyone.”

 For our visitors bringing bags, the Engineers Day policy for the Soo Locks follows:

    Clear bags cannot be larger than 12 inches long, 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide.

    Diaper bags are not allowed.

    Medical bags are exempt.

    Wallets must not have a strap and cannot exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.

 All people entering the Soo Locks are subject to a security search. Firearms, weapons including knives of any size, drugs, pets (except service animals) and bicycles are not permitted.

 “Visitors will not be able to cross the Poe Lock again this year, due to ongoing construction for the New Lock at the Soo project,” said LeighAnn Ryckeghem, Soo Project Office Operations Manager. “Visitors will be able to cross the MacArthur Lock and tour the first floor of the historic Administration Building.”

 Visitors should enter the Soo Locks facility at the east end, crossing the downstream gate of the MacArthur Lock, and exiting the west end, crossing back on the upstream gate. This path equals about a half mile (.5 miles) of walking.

 Along with welcoming visitors into the Soo Locks complex, Canal Park and the viewing platform will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the Soo Locks Visitor Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

 The Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau is closing a portion of Portage Avenue to focus on downtown city merchants and vendors. Downtown Portage Avenue will close to vehicle traffic and open for pedestrians and vendors between Ferris Street and Osborn Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 28. 

 Along with allowing visitors into the Soo Locks facility, several other events will take place:

     United States Coast Guard open house from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Superior Health Systems Arts, Crafts and Family Fun Fair at the City Hall grounds from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

    Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

 To register to be a vendor (no-cost) on Portage Avenue, please contact the Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 906-632-3366 or admin@saultstemarie.com. 

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Isle Royale National Park’s Ferry Stuck At Dock Without Engineers

 Reaching Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior could be hard this summer, as the National Park Service’s ferry that normally takes visitors to the park is without an engineering crew.

 The Ranger III, which traverses the 76 nautical miles between Houghton, Michigan, and the park in about six-and-a-half hours, requires an engineering staff to operate. Unfortunately, the engineer and assistant engineer reportedly took advantage of the Trump administration’s buyout program to retire now and collect pay through September. On top of that, the administration’s hiring freeze is keeping the park from hiring replacements.

 “The 165-foot vessel cannot operate without a full U.S. Coast Guard-licensed crew,” says Bill Fink, a former Isle Royale superintendent now retired and living in Houghton. “The Ranger III is the keystone of park operations. It carries staff and visitors, yes, but it also carries the fuel which runs generators for the developed areas; it carries the bulk of the frozen and fresh food for employees and the lodge; it carries the major freight load for projects; it carries off the refuse from the park staff and the lodge operation; it carries visitor boats (sometimes returning disabled visitor boats back to the mainland).

 “In short, if the Ranger III cannot operate, Isle Royale cannot be functionally open,” said Fink.

 The park is typically closed to visitors from November 1 to April 15. It was not immediately clear if the park would open on April 16 this year.

 Park staff referred questions about the matter to the National Park Service’s Midwest Region office, which referred questions to the agency’s Washington headquarters, which did not immediately respond Wednesday,

 National Park Traveler