It’s hard to miss the large, dark-colored building right on the edge of Canal Park in Duluth, near the pier. There’s a cute little painted statue of the Aerial Lift Bridge right in front of the entrance, just next to the real-life bridge. Sure, it’s always been there. But what is it?
“We have a lot of museum functions and exhibits, but we also have a lot of random tasks we do to welcome people here at the visitor center,” said Scott Bjorklund, museum technician and park ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers. “We educate the public about the Corps of Engineers’ role in supporting the shipping that happens here, which is a part of preserving the maritime history. The museum and visitor center are used interchangeably because we are officially one.”
The Lake Superior Marine Museum Association’s mission statement is as follows:
- The LSMMA seeks:
- To preserve the maritime heritage of Lake Superior and the Port of Duluth-Superior
- To cooperate with the Corps of Engineers so as to acquire, preserve, and exhibit maritime artifacts, documents, publications, and photographs
- To fund development and presentation of educational and promotional programs, events, and publications pertaining to Lake Superior, the Great Lakes, and St. Lawrence Seaway System
- To support the Lake Superior Maritime Collection at the University of Wisconsin-Superior
- To assist other organizations in promoting and protecting our maritime heritage
- To achieve the above with a growing membership of involved citizens who will provide financial resources through their membership and activities
The list is truly all-encompassing when it comes to Lake Superior’s maritime history.
Summer is a busy time for the museum and visitor center. “We usually have an event of some kind for Lake Superior Days here at the visitor center, held July 19-20. Then Lighthouse Days is another big event we do, which will be on August 7. For that day we typically have special lighthouse-related tours in the park area, as well as activities and films related to the lighthouses,” said Bjorklund.
Those with an interest in shipwrecks can also look forward to November 10, when Split Rock Lighthouse will hold a ceremony to honor the Edmund Fitzgerald crew members who were lost during that fateful November day in 1975. The ceremony will be livestreamed at the Lake Superior Maritime Museum, along with other similarly themed exhibits and programs. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the ship’s sinking—a significant milestone. “My favorite ship that comes through [the canal] is the Arthur M. Anderson, which famously followed the Fitzgerald and was the last in contact with them,” said Bjorklund.
Interested in becoming involved with the organization? Maybe a little volunteering—or just finding others that share your enthusiasm for maritime history?
“The way people can become involved is they can become a member of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association, which is our nonprofit fundraising group. The best way to get a hold of us to do so, besides visiting us in person, is to reach out to our email, which is [email protected]. [Volunteer-wise] we appreciate anyone and everyone who is willing to help us out. It’s a cool place to just hang out and answer questions for the public. All our current volunteers really like it. They’ve all been coming back almost every year,” said Bjorklund.
For those not interested in volunteering or joining the LSMMA, maybe a stroll through the museum is a good idea to tuck away for a rainy (or sunny) day. “Besides exhibits that cover the history of the Corps of Engineers and what we do here, we have a lot of other interactive exhibits that are good for all ages. The visitor center is not just for folks looking for a stuffy museum. We have a gift shop, we have films, and we have tons of model ships—more than you’ll see anywhere,” said Bjorklund.
Their website, lsmma.com, also includes a boat watcher’s live cam feed. The visitor center is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
