Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Famous Visitor & Early Boat Tour


Last summer, we took our family on the Soo Locks Boat Tours and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Yesterday I read of an earlier visitor on a sight-seeing trip.

In 1832, Sault Ste. Marie had a visit from the French writer Alexis Tocqueville. His reactions to the Great Lakes shows his amazement at this wonderful area.

According to the itinerary for Tocqueville's trip, "While in Detroit, they visited the nearby Michigan territory's prison. Changing their plans, Tocqueville and Beaumont turned around heading once again for the northwest. As they boarded the ten-year old touring steamboat,, the "Superior". The vessel was taking on the first sight-seeing cruise to Ssault Sainte Marie so passengers could view Lake Superior.

I learned about this as I am reading an interesting book by Jerry Dennis called The Living Great Lakes. Dennis is a Michigan author who writes eloquently about our area and the Great Lakes.

I wonder if there was someone in the Sault to make fudge for the visitors in 1832?