Tower of History

{{Short description|Observation tower and museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Tower of History

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| image = Tower of History.JPG

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| image_caption = Tower of History in 2021

| map_type = Michigan#USA

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| map_caption = Location within Michigan

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| former_names = Tower of Missionaries

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| building_type = Observation tower

| architectural_style = Modern architecture

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| address = 326 E. Portage Avenue

| location_city = Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

| location_country = US

| coordinates = {{coord|46.4982|-84.3405|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

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| completion_date = 1968

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| cost = $1 million

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| owner = Le Sault De Sainte Marie Historical Sites, Inc.

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| height = {{Convert|210|ft|m|abbr=on}}

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| material = Glass, steel, and reinforced concrete

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| floor_count = 21

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| elevator_count = 1

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| architect = George Rafferty

| architecture_firm = Progressive Design Associates, Saint Paul, Minnesota

| developer = St. Mary's Catholic Church

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| website = {{URL|http://www.saulthistoricsites.com/tower-of-history/}}

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The Tower of History (originally the Tower of Missionaries) is a {{Convert|210|ft|m|adj=on}} observation tower in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfbTXVD8hUIC&pg=PA73|title=Michigan's Upper Peninsula: A Great Destination|last=Westervelt|first=Amy|author-link=Amy Westervelt|publisher=The Countryman Press|year=2012|isbn=978-1-58157-138-7|location=Woodstock, Vermont|pages=73–74|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mlo0IgrX_VIC&pg=PA210|title=Around the Shores of Lake Superior: A Guide to Historic Sites|last=Bogue|first=Margaret Beattie|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0-299-22174-4|location=Madison, Wisconsin|pages=210|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jfw9kkGkKfkC&pg=PA1185|title=Backroads & Byways of Michigan: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions|last=Forster|first=Matt|publisher=The Countryman Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-88150-831-4|location=Woodstock, Vermont|pages=185}} Located at 326 E. Portage Avenue, it was the tallest observation tower in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when completed in 1968.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18887066/soo_shrine_to_early_missionaries_tower/|title=Soo Shrine to Early Missionaries: Tower Marks Dawn Of State's History|date=July 1, 1975|work=The Herald-Palladium|access-date=April 3, 2018|location=St. Joseph, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com {{free access}}}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18887077/american_soo_tourist_tower_a_tall/|title=American Soo tourist tower a tall headache for owners|date=July 14, 1975|work=Traverse City Record-Eagle|access-date=April 3, 2018|via=Newspapers.com {{free access}}}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18887094/tower_of_history_21_stories_high/|title=Tower of History 21 stories high|date=August 10, 1975|work=The Times Herald|access-date=April 3, 2018|location=Port Huron, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com {{free access}}}} The tower was built in a modernist style and consists of three vertical, trapezoid-shaped columns that support five cantilevered observation platforms. 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.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/exploringamerica00heim|url-access=registration|title=Exploring America's Highways: Michigan Trip Trivia|last=Heim|first=Michael|publisher=T.O.N.E. Publishing|year=2004|isbn=0-97443-582-1|location=Wabasha, Minnesota|pages=[https://archive.org/details/exploringamerica00heim/page/93 93]|via=Internet Archive}} The view extends for roughly {{Convert|20|mi|km}};{{Cite web|url=https://www.saultstemarie.com/member-detail/tower-of-history/|title=Tower of History|publisher=Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau|access-date=April 1, 2018}} in total, approximately {{Convert|1,200|sqmi|km2}} are visible from the tower.{{Cite web|url=http://www.saulthistoricsites.com/tower-of-history/|title=Tower of History|publisher=Sault Historic Sites|access-date=April 1, 2018}}