The tower rises 210 feet over the waterfront, affording unobstructed views from its observation platforms of the cultural and the natural landscapes—St. Mary's River, the Sault Locks (
CH5), the international railroad bridges and the highway bridge (
CH10, CH11, CH12), and the countryside beyond. Intended to serve as the bell tower for an unexecuted Shrine of the Missionaries community center and church complex proposed to replace St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral (1881, Joseph Connolly) at 320 E. Portage Avenue, the tower was acquired by Le Sault de Ste. Marie Historical Sites, Inc., and adapted to its current use. The complex massing and frank expression of its structural members and concrete building material characterize the tower as Brutalist in style. This architectural style was popular in the 1950s and 1960s.