Go See It
John Johnston House, Sault Ste. Marie: Go See It
The Water Street home a British fur trader built in 1823 in Sault Ste. Marie, open for tours only in summer.
The facts
- Drive
- 2 hr 47 min from Marquette
- Cost
- Adults $5, children $3 (free for 5 and younger)…
- Season
- Engineers Day (last Friday of June) to Labor Day…
- Hours
- Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.…
Address
Water Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, near the Valley Camp. Sources give different numbers: 415 Water Street (Michigan.org), 425 E Water St (Google Maps listing), "E. Water Street, near the Valley Camp" (Sault Ste. Marie CVB), "the 300 block of Water Street" (Chippewa County Historical Society).
DirectionsMore detail
- From Marquette
- 165 mi via M-28 E (Google Maps, usual traffic, read Oct. 5, 2026)
- Cost
- Adults $5, children $3 (free for 5 and younger), families $15 (Sault Ste. Marie CVB, the only source that lists prices; Michigan.org says to call).
- Season
- Engineers Day (last Friday of June) to Labor Day (Sault Ste. Marie CVB).
- Hours
- Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., from Engineers Day (the last Friday of June) to Labor Day, per the Sault Ste. Marie CVB. By those dates the house closed for 2026 on Labor Day, Sept. 7. The Google Maps listing still shows "Opens 12 PM Wed" (a visitor-updated entry). Michigan.org says "Call for information." Call before you go.
- From the Bridge
- 55 min (55.6 mi) via I-75 N (Google Maps flags tolls on this route; usual traffic, read Oct. 5, 2026)
Before you go
- John Johnston, a British fur trader, arrived in the Sault in 1793. He built the house in 1823 as an addition to an earlier log building (Chippewa County Historical Society; the Sault CVB also gives 1823).
- Chippewa County Historical Society (906) 635-7082. Sault Ste. Marie CVB 906-632-3366. The Google Maps listing shows (906) 635-7670.
- The Historical Society's Historic Water Street page does not list hours, season or admission for the house. No source we read lists parking.
Sources
- Sault Ste. Marie CVB - The Historic Homes of Water Street (hours, season, prices) Read October 5, 2026
- Chippewa County Historical Society - Historic Water Street (block, history, phone) Read October 5, 2026
- Michigan.org - Water Street Historic Block (address, call for information) Read October 5, 2026
- Google Maps - John Johnston House listing (address, phone, GPS) Read October 5, 2026
- Google Maps - Marquette to John Johnston House (drive time) Read October 5, 2026
- Google Maps - Mackinac Bridge to John Johnston House (drive time) Read October 5, 2026
Verified October 5, 2026