SAULT STE. MARIE — Following its annual tradition, the Soo Locks Visitor Center is opening to the public for the season on Mothers day.

The Soo Locks were built in 1855, and ever since then people have been coming from across the state and the country to watch ships pass through the locks. It wasn't until 1966 that the visitor center was constructed to give onlookers a better view of the locks. Since then the visitor center has become a center for not only watching the ships but for educating yourself about the history of the locks and how they work.

The many exhibits the visitor center has to offer teach people about the construction of the locks, their importance to the local economy as well as the history of many of the ships that regularly pass through the locks.

This year the center is displaying some new exhibits, including an exhibit which details the construction projects the locks have undergone in the recent winter season. Visitors can also see two new exhibits dedicated to the currently unfinished lock which is still under construction.

"We are excited to open the Visitor Center after a long winter,” said Chief Park Ranger Michelle Briggs. “This year, in addition to updated exhibits, we have a new water safety program with goody bags we hope all will enjoy."

One of the new exhibits displayed is about water safety, beginning this year, visitors will also be able to take a water safety pledge. As part of a safety awareness program the visitors center will allow people to pledge to follow safety precautions in and around deep water, including but not limited to wearing life vests when appropriate. Those who take the pledge will go home with a goodie bag of items and a reminder to stay safe around open water.

Those who cannot attend the center in person will still be able to watch the virtual exhibits online. The virtual exhibits began as a way to give people access to the center even during the COVID-19 pandemic, it includes more than 40 video presentations on various topics, including the histories of the many ships that travel the Great Lakes and much more.

"We started the virtual Visitor Center in 2020 when everyone had to go home and we were just trying to figure out how to continue to do our mission. The park ranger mission is to educate and inform the public about Great Lakes," said Briggs. "Of course, we couldn't open our visitor centers so we started doing the virtual Visitor Center with programs."

The virtual exhibits will not continue now that the center is open but all of the virtual exhibits are still available online. The virtual exhibits will return again in the off-season. The collection of previously aired virtual exhibits can be found on YouTube.

Another change in the visitor center this year is that it will be staffed by park rangers instead of general contractors. The rangers will be able to provide more security for the center and will start regular patrols in the park area around the visitor center. Rangers will also be available to guests with information about the exhibits, the locks and maps of the area.

For the month of May the visitor center will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, those hours are likely to change after May. The viewing platform connected to the visitor center will have different hours, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. The visitor center is scheduled to close down again in mid October based on the weather.

Those who use the viewing platform to freighter watch can call the new hotline number 906-202-1333 to get an update of which ships are coming through the locks at what times.

For more information, visit the Corps of engineers website.

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Soo Locks visitor Center opens for the season