Visit virtually from anywhere!

In 2021, to increase accessibility of cultural institutions, Google created an application called ‘Google Arts and Culture.’ Parks Canada was invited to submit some of the first virtual exhibits. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site was selected to showcase its Indigenous history and technological marvels using 360° virtual tours and historic photos. The exhibit is now live!

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the world experienced a big shift from in-person to virtual experiences. Many businesses, workplaces, and schools faced restrictions. This included access limitations for visitors to Parks Canada places. With requests for virtual tours and experiences, the team at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal decided that a Google Virtual Tour would let them offer virtual tours of the grounds.

After the team had begun working on the tour, Google announced that they would be replacing the Google Virtual Tour program with a more elaborate program called ‘Google Arts and Culture’. The new program would showcase high-resolution exhibits from prestigious museums and art galleries worldwide, with an aim to make arts and culture more accessible to global audiences.

Soon after the program was announced, Parks Canada began working with Google to create some of the first exhibits to be featured on the platform. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal was selected to participate at this time because of their previous work on the Google Virtual Tour. The project would not only include 360° views of the grounds, but also historic and archival images. Moreover, there would be a focus on Indigenous history and use of the land.

After some time spent sourcing information and visuals, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal’s Google Arts & Culture experience is now live. The page takes visitors through the changing landscapes of the Sault Canal, beginning with Indigenous peoples’ connections to the lands and rapids, to the construction of the canal, and finally the modern-day use of the recreational lock and grounds. Users can scroll through historic views of the Sault Canal while also touring through the grounds of today. This new feature offers increased accessibility to virtual visitors from around the world.

Whether you’re an avid history buff or a curious explorer, dive into the newly launched Changing Landscapes of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal on Google Arts & Culture and immerse yourself in the legacy of the Sault Canal like never before!