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Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center
America's "Ace of Aces"
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location: Superior
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| museum |
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Richard and his sweetheart, Marge, who would be immortalized as the artwork on his plane
photo courtesy of official site |
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"The Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center was created to honor and remember all those who fought and died, worked and waited during World War II. From the moment you walk through our doors, you will travel back to a time when ordinary people became extraordinary heroes."
– section from the official website
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 305 Harbor View Parkway
Superior, WI 54880
or (888) 816-WWII (9 |
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hours:
• Memorial Weekend thru October (daily) 9am – 5pm
• November thru May (Tues - Sat) 9am – 4pm
(Sundays) Noon – 4pm / CLOSED MONDAYS |
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Official Site
www.bvhcenter.org
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Ace Pilots
www.acepilots.com
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Aviation Hall of Fame Wisconsin
www.wisconsinaviationhalloffame.org
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book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page(s) 194
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 20 – 21
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"The Wisconsin Story: 150 Stories/150 Years"
by Dennis McCann
Journal Sentinel Inc (1998)
page(s) 112 – 113
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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“Richard I. Bong WWII Heritage Center ”
video by craickid
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Richard Bong Memorial
at the Richard I. Bong Academy
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location: Poplar
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| photo courtesy of Village of Poplar website |
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The Richard I. Bong Academy building has been turned into apartments since the opening of the Richard Bong World War II Heritage Center in Superior.
"For over 50 years, a memorial to Richard I. Bong has been in place in Poplar, Wisconsin, about 15 miles east of the Twin Ports cities of Duluth and Superior. It honors Dick Bong of Poplar, America's leading Ace of all time, who piloted a P-38 Lightning through more than 200 missions over the Southwest Pacific in World War II and destroyed 40 enemy planes - a record that will never be equaled."
– section from the official website
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was at: 4956 Memorial Drive
Poplar, WI 54864
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Village of Poplar
www.villageofpoplar.com
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Official Site
www.bvhcenter.org
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“Dick Bong Pacific Ace ”
video by WW2PilotTraining
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S.S. Meteor (Ship & Museum)
World's Last Whaleback Ship (built 1896)
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location: Superior
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| historical oddity / unique conveyance |
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"The S.S. Meteor is the last remaining of these innovative ships (called whalebacks for their rounded hulls) designed by Captain Alexander McDougall. Launched from Superior in 1896, she carried a variety of cargos on the Great Lakes, including iron ore, grain, cars, and oil. In 1972 she was brought home to Superior and is now permanently berthed on Barkers Island. Hear the ship's whistle and see the original 1896 steam engine as you tour from pilot house to cargo holds. The Museum also features exhibits on Twin Ports shipbuilding history and Great Lakes shipwrecks."
– section from the official website
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(The ship is permanently berthed on Barker's Island, just off Highway 53 in Superior.)
906 E. 2nd St.
Superior, WI 54880
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hours:
Call for information as hours vary. |
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Official Site
www.superiorpublicmuseums.org
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Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com
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book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page(s) 81
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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“Whale Back Ships of the Great Lakes.”
video by strobx1
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“Retired: S.S. William A. Irvin S.S. Meteor ”
video by alaricdogface
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| Old Firehouse & Police Museum |
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location: Superior
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| museum |
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"The Old Firehouse & Police Museum is located in the last of Superior’s turn-of-the-century firehouses. Station No. 4 was built in 1898 as a replacement for the original East End Firehall, a wooden building, which burned down in 1896. The first floor of the new brick structure housed horses and the equipment they pulled, including Superior’s first steamer, the Charlie O’Hare. The men lived on the second floor."
– section from the official website
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402 23rd Avenue East
Superior, WI 54880
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hours:
mid-May thru mid-October (Thurs - Sat) 10am – 5pm
(Sundays) 12pm – 5pm |
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Largest Ball of Twine in Wisconsin
(& perhaps the world)
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location: Lake Nebagamon
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| record holder |
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| James F. Kotera, known as JFK, has been adding to the massive ball of twine in his backyard since 1979. His may be the world record holder, which is even more special since he is the sole builder of the 19,000 pound ball. He also runs the town of Highland's dump. Remember that the twine ball is on private property, so if you visit, be sure to call first. |
 Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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8009 S. Oakdale Rd.
Lake Nebagamon, WI 54849
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web links
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books & video
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book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press (1st ed., 2000)
page(s) 36 – 37
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Strange Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page(s) 58
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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“James Kotera - JFK - The Twine Ball Man ”
video by sumoflam
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“JFK's Giant Ball of Twine ”
video by beerframeguy
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“Eye To Eye: On The Road Again”
video by CBS
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Accordion Museum & Hall of Fame
at Harrington Arts Center
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location: Superior
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| museum |
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| Over 1,000 accordions await you in this former church, along with loads of research material and artifacts from the days of accordions past. |
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1401 Belknap St.
Superior, WI 54880
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hours:
(Mon, Tues, Wed) 10am – 2pm |
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Official Site
www.accordionworld.org
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Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
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Roads Traveled
roadstraveled.com
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UM-Duluth Statesman
article "Superior accordion museum is one-of-a-kind" or archived (here)
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book:
"Sidetracked in Wisconsin"
by Mary Bergin
Itchy Cat Press (2006)
page(s) 40 – 41
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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Giant Embedded Arrow
in front of Gronk's Grill & Bar
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location: Superior
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| roadside oddity |
| Don't stumble into the shaft on your way out tonight. |
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4909 E 2nd St.
Superior, WI 54880
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| A Strange Place to Find a Snowman |
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location: Solon Springs
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| roadside oddity |
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| If you don't pay attention as you're driving by on Highway 27, you might miss the 'snowman' standing on the far side of a pond (this may be High Life Lake). |
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on east side of Highway 27 near the Douglas/Bayfield counties border, north of the intersection with County Road A (12 miles east of Solon Springs)
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"Built by Finnish immigrant and homesteader, Jacob (Tapola) Davidson, it served Old-Brule and Lakeside in the South Shore region from 1904 to 1926. Constructed of native materials, it was used for milling locally grown grains for both animal and human consumption."
– section from plaque next to windmill
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From Highways 2 / 53 south of Superior, turn east onto Highway 13. After 3½ miles, look for windmill at intersection with River Road.
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| photo courtesy of Ohio Barns |
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| Bardon Park Covered Bridge |
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location: South Range
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| landmark bridge |
| This 1939 structure is one of the more picturesque covered walking bridges in the state. |
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in Bardon Park/Amnicon Park
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| photo courtesy of Ohio Barns |
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Bookmark the Wisconsinosity home page! wisconsinosity.com
Click here for MORE PHOTOS
6294 S. State Rd. 35
906 E. 2nd Street
906 E. 2nd Street