Nearly 90 Years After Amelia Earhart’s Disappearance, Her Legacy Soars in a Tiny Kansas Town

Atchison, Kansas, is a small town with a big place in history — it proudly stands as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart, the pioneering aviator who captivated the world before her mysterious disappearance in 1937. Nearly 90 years later, her presence is still felt in the community, and the impact would be hard to miss. 

From museums to buildings bearing Earhart’s name, fireworks displays that light up the sky, and a portrait of her that’s nearly the size of a football field, residents have ensured that the legacy of Atchison’s “favorite daughter” isn’t just something that’s remembered; it’s lived and celebrated in myriad ways.

Earthwork

One of Atchison’s most notable and enduring tributes to the legendary pilot — the first woman to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean — is the Amelia Earhart Earthwork, a one-acre image of her created by Kansas artist Stan Herd in 1997. This “living” artwork blends plants, stones, and other natural materials to create a portrait of Earhart wearing her iconic cap and flight goggles. Because of its size, its best viewing angle is from above, a detail Earhart likely would’ve appreciated.

Birthplace Museum

Near the heart of Atchison is the cottage where Earhart was born on July 24, 1897. The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, as it’s now known, was built by Earhart’s maternal grandfather in 1861 and is where she spent much of her childhood. In 1984, a generous donation allowed The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of female pilots, to purchase and preserve the house. The museum now offers visitors a rare glimpse into Earhart’s early life and the environment that fostered her adventurous spirit.

Hangar Museum

A short distance from the Birthplace Museum is the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, where you’ll find Muriel, the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E. The plane is identical to the one Earhart flew when she and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished while soaring over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937.

But the aircraft, named after Earhart’s younger sister, Grace Muriel Earhart Morrissey, has its own story to tell. Initially used to fly routes in South America in the 1930s and later as a skydiving plane in Florida in the 1970s, Muriel was nearly scrapped before a female pilot stepped in to save the aircraft and restore it to its former glory. Along with Muriel, the museum is also home to a bronze statue of Earhart that welcomes visitors outside its entrance.  

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Festival and Fireworks Display

Every July, Atchison hosts the Amelia Earhart Festival, a celebration that draws thousands of guests and includes an aerial stunts show along its riverfront. The highlight is its “Concert in the Sky,” a fireworks display that USA Today listed as one of the top three fireworks shows in the country. 

Living the Legacy

Atchison has also shown its passion for Earhart in many other ways, such as naming landmarks like the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport, Amelia Earhart Post Office, and the Amelia Earhart Stadium after her. Even the town’s logo uses her likeness. 

“Amelia truly is the most important thing that happened here in Atchison,” Karen Seaberg, founder and president of the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, recently said. 

These community efforts — some big, and some even bigger — have ensured that the memory of one of America’s greatest trailblazers will continue to inspire future generations.