Touching History: One Intern’s Experience with Richard Bong’s Legacy
My name is Mitchell Trantow, I am a student at the University of Minnesota, Duluth and I served in the United States Navy from 2017-2023. I interned at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center due to my general love of history and the opportunity it has provided me to see for myself the vast […]
Powering History with Sunshine: Bong Center Unveils New Solar Array
The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center is proud to announce the completion of its new solar array and will host a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM on the Center’s grounds. Thanks to a Solar for Good grant awarded in Fall 2023, the Center completed installation of a 20-kilowatt ground-mounted solar […]
Veteran’s Spotlight Exhibit: Harry M. Ochocki
By Aydan DeCoursey Hi, I’m Aydan DeCoursey, a Junior majoring in Public History and minoring in GIS (Geographic Information Science) at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I am interning at the Richard I Bong Museum for the 2025 spring semester. The Bong Center is introducing a new veterans spotlight exhibit about Harry Ochocki, who was […]
Pre-Order Peaches 2025
Opportunity to pre-order delicious Georgia Peaches from American Legion Auxiliary Post 435. All proceeds benefit local veterans
New or Existing Volunteer Training
Excellent training for new or current volunteers.
Soaring Beyond 100:Â The Remarkable Life of Fighter Pilot Jim Donohue
Jim holding the Bong Center challenge coin on December 20, 2024. A Wisconsin Boyhood Although you would never know it by looking at him, Jim Donohue turned 102 years old on Christmas Day 2024. He was born in Oxbo, Wisconsin in 1922. After graduating high school in 1941 he went to work in a logging […]
80th Anniversary, Battle of the Bulge
This December marks 80 years since one of the most pivotal battles of World War II: the Battle of the Bulge. Fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, this grueling winter campaign in the Ardennes forest tested the courage and resilience of Allied forces, including countless brave Americans. The German counterattack came out […]
Happy National Cookie Day
Celebrate National Cookie Day on December 6th with facts, tasty recipes, and short history of everyone’s favorite treat during WW2—cookies! Perfect for bakers and cookie lovers alike.
Flag at Half Mast
What do you know about Flags flown at Half Mast? Our flags on Monday, August 26th, flew at half-staff with respect for Wisconsin-born and raised Sergeant Jack Hohlfeld. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, WWII POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal […]
National Dog Day
Richard I. Bong and Speaks National Dog Day This amazing photo was taken in November 1942 when Dick Bong was home. We get to see our Ace of Aces nose to nose with his good boy Speaks. August 26th is considered National Dog Day in the US. We adore dogs at the Bong Center but […]