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James F. Buchli

buchli_j

Astronaut James Buchli, former Fargo Central High School Student

James F. Buchli was born on June 20, 1945 in New Rockford, ND. Buchli calls Fargo, ND his hometown and he graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1963. He eventually moved away from North Dakota in order to earn a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the prestigious United States Naval Academy in 1967. He then obtained a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering Systems from University of West Florida in 1975.
Following his graduation from the Naval Academy and before he earned his master’s degree Buchli served a year in Vietnam and returned in 1969. He has a long list of military accomplishments including his participation in Marine Advanced Degree Program and Test Pilot School. He became an astronaut in 1979 and partook in multiple missions with NASA. He later retired from the NASA Astronaut office and took a job as a manager in the Space Station Systems Operations and Requirements with Boeing Defense and Space Group.

Sources:
  1. “Astronaut Bio: James F. Buchli.” NASA: Lyndon B Johnson Space Center. Accessed October 24, 2016. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/buchli-jf.html.
  2. Photo: http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/buchli_james.htm
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The Fargo History Project

The Fargo History Project began in Fall 2012 as part of a Digital History course at North Dakota State University. What started as a class effort to explore Fargo’s early history through archival research has grown into an ongoing, collaborative public history initiative. Students continue to work in libraries, archives, and the community to uncover and interpret the city’s past, contributing research that expands the project in new directions each year.

Over time, the project has moved beyond its original digital format to include a range of public-facing work. Students have produced original documentaries, conducted oral histories, and developed a Fargo history walking tour that invites people to experience the city’s past in place. These additions reflect a broader commitment to making history accessible, engaging, and relevant to public audiences.

Have a story, photograph, or piece of Fargo’s history to share? Send it to us or get in touch—we want to include your voice in the project.

Angela J. Smith is Professor of History and Director of the Public History Program at North Dakota State University. Her work focuses on public history, digital history, and twentieth-century U.S. history, with an emphasis on community-engaged research and making the past accessible to broader audiences.

Fargo History Resources

The Fargo History Project is a public history initiative produced by students at NDSU. ©North Dakota State University