Faces of Duluth tells the stories of the people behind Duluth’s iconic attractions, hidden gems and everything in between. Faces of Duluth provides the locals’ tips and tricks for seeing all the city has to offer.
Kaylee Matuszak has two big passions: Lake Superior and music. After growing up in Duluth, she left for college and felt a void being away from the big lake. After school, she returned and is thriving in her hometown. Now, she gets to share both her passions with visitors and Duluthians alike. By day, she’s an employee at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center where she helps people connect with the Great Lake. By night, she’s an active member of the community, performing live music shows around Duluth and supporting others who make the art and music scene so vibrant. A win-win for both Kaylee and Duluth.
What’s your Duluth story?
I’m a born and raised Duluthian! I grew up in the Denfeld neighborhood. I left Duluth when I went to college down in Mankato, but I came right back when I was done. I missed the lake too much!
Tell us about the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center (LSMVC).
The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center is a free museum and visitor center located in the heart of Canal Park, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Originally created to fix the need for a free public restroom in Canal Park, LSMVC has been open since September 1973. Our hours change based on the season, so we recommend checking our website for current days/hours of operation prior to a visit.
What can LSMVC visitors see and learn?
We’re lucky enough to have one of the largest collections of boat models and maritime artifacts anywhere on the Great Lakes, which are very popular with visitors. We have exhibits spotlighting shipwrecks, the Aerial Lift Bridge and the maritime history of the Twin Ports. We even have an interactive exhibit where visitors can pilot a boat through the Soo Locks. Visitors will learn a whole heck of a lot about Duluth and our maritime history!
Tell us about your roles at the LSMVC.
I’m a Park Ranger/Museum Technician, so I do a little bit of everything. In the summer, we manage the vessel schedule, give recommendations and directions to visitors from all over the world, and make sure everything’s running smoothly in the Visitor Center and our park.
In the winter, I get to focus more on the museum side of things. We have a large collections storage facility on Park Point that always needs cataloging and organizing. I also get to spend our slower months planning new exhibits and cleaning our current ones. Those ship models take a while to dust because they’re so fragile.
My favorite part of my job is getting to announce the ships as they come through the Canal. People hear me both in the park and on the Canal Cam, so I think I have some fans from that!
What are some insider tips for LSMVC visitors?
Late fall is a really great time of year to visit because things are quieter – the leaf peepers have left, and the Bentleyville crowds haven’t arrived yet. Keep an eye on harborlookout.com if you’re trying to see a ship. Things change frequently, so you might get lucky! We have interactive exhibits for younger visitors, and plenty to read for those who are interested in shipping. You can get through the museum in an hour or less, depending on how closely you’re looking at everything. We are a free facility, and we are fully accessible with a ramp and an elevator.
What are the Gales of November?
The gales are the strong winds and storms that visit the Great Lakes region in the fall. They’re generally strongest in late October/early November, but we can also get strong storms in the springtime. The gales generally blow through when there’s a strong shift in atmospheric pressure. We also associate them with strong Northeasterly winds and the large waves that come with those.
Any tips for folks who want to see the Gales?
You’ll generally catch some good wave action if we’ve had sustained East/Northeast winds for more than a day. You can always check out the Canal Cam to see live wave conditions, and Windy.com is great for the wind forecast. Our park right by the Aerial Lift Bridge is popular with wave watchers, and if you drive up the shore there are lots of good places to watch the lake along Scenic 61, as well.
What is something people may find surprising about Lake Superior?
It’s estimated there have been at least 10,000 shipwrecks across the Great Lakes, but only around 350 of them are known to be within Lake Superior! The big lake is dangerous for sure, but not the deadliest. Lake Superior’s shipwreck reputation is a bit inflated thanks to Gordon Lightfoot, I think.
In addition to your roles with the LSMVC, you’re a musician – how cool! Tell us about your music and where people can listen.
Yes!!! I’ve been playing guitar and writing songs for over 10 years now! I released my second album, Leading Lady back in June. It’s streamable everywhere you can find music. I’m very proud of it. I play shows across a few projects – my solo music, my novelty rock band Berserk Blondes! (with Steve Solkela), and my Fleetwood Mac cover band, Mr. Wonderful – and I post about my shows on X (formerly Twitter), @kayleefabulous.
What do you love about Duluth?
Duluth is an amazing place. Growing up here, I really didn’t begin to appreciate how cool it was until I came back after college. Living away from the lake was really weird! Duluth is so beautiful, but my very favorite thing about it is the music scene. It is absolutely incredible, and kind of crazy that we have this vibrant music and arts culture in a community our size.
What do you enjoy doing in Duluth?
I’m always out catching as much live music as I can! I’m on the Steering Committee for Homegrown Music Festival. I’m a dive bar connoisseur, and I love feeling like a regular. In Duluth, I feel like a regular almost anywhere. I’m not super outdoorsy, but you really can’t beat wandering around the historic parts of Forest Hill Cemetery this time of year.
What do you like to do/where do you like to go in Duluth with out-of-town visitors?
If I’m hosting someone who’s never been to Duluth before, I try to hit a bunch of highlights. I send them to my museum first, because it’s a good place to get a lot of base information. I like to take people to Sir Ben’s as often as I can. Hoops Brewing for sure. I’m an Owl’s Club member, so if it’s a nice day I’ll take friends there to show off how great the deck is. Usually, I’ll try to convince people to visit me during some of my favorite festivals or events. Homegrown, Boubville, really anything related to music or art lets me show off the city the way I like to experience it.