Marine City Unveils Interactive Freighter Sculpture Along St. Clair River

The new Love Locks Freighter at Broadway Park lets visitors attach commemorative locks while celebrating the city’s maritime history.

MARINE CITY, Mich. — A new freighter-shaped sculpture along the St. Clair River will give residents and tourists a way to commemorate loved ones while celebrating Marine City’s long connection to Great Lakes shipping.

The Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce will formally unveil its Love Locks Freighter on Thursday, Nov. 12, at Broadway Park, 100 Broadway St. The public celebration begins at 4 p.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:20 p.m. Sponsors and community supporters will be recognized during the event.

The steel sculpture is designed to resemble a Great Lakes freighter, complete with an interior grid where visitors can attach padlocks carrying names, dates or personal messages.

The installation is intended to become a permanent attraction along Marine City’s waterfront.

Love Locks Freighter Celebrates Marine City’s Maritime Heritage

Marine City has long been a popular destination for watching commercial freighters navigate the St. Clair River between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. The sculpture builds on that tradition by giving visitors an interactive attraction near one of the city’s busiest waterfront viewing areas.

According to the chamber, the steel structure measures 8 feet long and approximately 34 inches tall. Its design includes a crisscross steel grid for attaching locks, a weather-resistant powder-coated finish and a base anchored to concrete footings.

Visitors can bring their own locks or purchase commemorative locks from participating businesses. Each lock can represent a relationship, family memory, special occasion or personal connection to Marine City. Unlike traditional love-lock displays attached to bridges and fences, the sculpture was specifically designed to hold padlocks without damaging existing public infrastructure.

Community Donations Pay for New Waterfront Attraction

The project was developed through community fundraising, business sponsorships and grants. In June, chamber officials estimated the total project cost at approximately $4,800 to $6,600. That included about $3,589 for fabrication, along with installation, signage and related expenses.

The Blue Water Arts Committee of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County contributed $3,000 toward the project. Additional support came from businesses and individuals, including Riverside Gypsy, McBride-Manley & Co., Real Estate One Westrick, Mercantile Bank and Nickel & Saph. Mechanical Fabricators constructed the sculpture, while other local contractors assisted with site preparation and installation.

The chamber also offered sponsorship packages that included engraved brass locks recognizing participating businesses, families and individuals. The project was intended to rely on donations and sponsorships rather than a direct municipal construction appropriation.

City Commission Approved Installation in October

The Marine City Commission approved an agreement with the chamber Oct. 15 allowing the sculpture to occupy city-owned property at Broadway Park. Under the agreement, the chamber is responsible for funding, installing, maintaining and servicing the structure. The agreement also requires a receptacle for discarded lock keys and gives the city authority to remove the sculpture if it becomes unsafe or falls into disrepair.

City officials raised questions about long-term maintenance before approving the installation. The chamber agreed to monitor the attraction regularly.

The sculpture was subsequently placed at Broadway Park in October, ahead of the formal November ceremony.

Public Invited to Nov. 12 Ribbon Cutting

The unveiling celebration will recognize the businesses, organizations and residents who helped finance the project. Sponsors receiving engraved locks will have an opportunity to attach them to the freighter during the ceremony. Following the ribbon cutting, attendees are invited to continue the celebration at the Riverhouse Inn, 560 S. Water St.

The event is open to the public.

The new attraction also adds another stop for visitors walking through downtown Marine City, where restaurants, shops and waterfront parks already draw tourists. Because the sculpture will remain in place, visitors can add locks after the opening celebration.

As more locks accumulate, the freighter will become a growing collection of personal memories tied to the community. For a city where real freighters pass within view of the waterfront, the new sculpture offers a smaller but lasting reminder of Marine City’s maritime identity.

Event information: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, at Broadway Park, 100 Broadway St., Marine City. Installation activities begin at 4 p.m., with the ribbon cutting scheduled for 4:20 p.m.

For more information, visit the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce or call 810-765-4501.

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