Visiting the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum

Name: Visiting the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
Item: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
Author: Kristina Light

May 1, 2024

12:30 p.m.

"... now and then women should do for themselves what men have already done - and occasionally what men have not done - thereby establishing themselves as persons, and perhaps encouraging other women toward greater independence of thought and action." ~ Amelia Earhart

My daughters and I recently visited the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison, Kansas. We have visited her Birthplace Museum in the past and we were excited to visit this new museum.

As one of Kansas' most celebrated legends, Amelia Earhart's legacy lives on. We were delighted by this inspirational museum that celebrated Amelia's many aspirations, interests, and story, while inspiring visitors to pursue their dreams.

A visit to the museum begins with a charming introductory video performed with a combination of CGI and the skills of a professional actress portraying Amelia. The script includes many of Amelia's own words and her spirit.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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The centerpiece of the museum is The Muriel, a Lockheed Electra 10-E, identical to the one she flew during her final flight and named for her sister. Amelia customized the plane to her personal specifications removing passenger seats for additional fuel, adding a navigator's cockpit, covering windows, and lightening the load. At 5ft 9in, visitors have a chance to climb into a model of the cockpit to see how cramped it would be for Amelia. She also added communications equipment, and an early autopilot system. She had worked at Purdue University mentoring young women and the $80,000 airplane was deeded to her for her research.

Throughout the museum, guests are invited to interact with hands-on exhibits that teach more about Amelia and the science of flight.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

Amelia was born and raised in Atchison, but throughout her life she moved a lot. Her family life was unstable and difficult. Despite these challenges, Amelia became a talented and celebrated Renaissance woman with many skills and careers.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

One of the favorite exhibits for children demonstrates her childhood experiment of building a roller coaster in her backyard. Guests use software to design their own roller coaster with rudimentary materials inspired by this project.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

We all know her as a pilot, the museum celebrates this as well as her other ambitions and jobs including nurse, author, and fashion designer. Amelia was truly a multi-faceted talent who who was curious to learn so many things. One of the favorite exhibits allows visitors to learn about the 28 jobs she had throughout her life. One of the motivations for her hard work was the desire to make enough money to pay for flying lessons and eventually her license and airplanes. Through interactive technology, visitors try on uniforms, and answer questions choosing a professional path.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

In 1920, she earned her pilot's license. In 1928 she was a passenger, notable for a woman, on a Transatlantic flight. Her first solo flight across the Atlantic as a pilot occurred in 1932. One of the highlights of the museum is the VR experience where visitors can attempt to replicate the end of that flight.

Her goal on the flight was to land in Paris as Lindberg had done. Due to an engine fire and other challenges, she landed in a farmer's field in Northern Ireland. It was his first time to see an airplane. From there, she went to London and then to Paris. She achieved all of this eighteen hours faster than Lindberg had done.

The museum also introduces her relationship with her husband, George Putnam, her publicist. Their non-traditional marriage was very modern and unique for its time, and one of the displays includes a premarital Amelia wrote to George explaining her intent to continue to pursue her career and for both of them to be free.

Although famous, Amelia was quite shy and did not enjoy the spotlight. She accepted the responsibility of publicity insofar as it buoyed her professional and personal goals. And, despite always taking on challenges and new things, her compassion for others took precedent when needed. Famously the stopped to help a fellow female pilot who had crashed hindering her own results in a competition. The museum strives to portray her many facets accurately, and as much as possible, uses her own words to do this whether through audio clips or written word.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

Additionally, the museum also features an exhibit celebrating other accomplished women including doctors, engineers, activists, politicians, and scientists. Their stories overcome stereotypes and obstacles and inspire future generations to take on challenges.

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Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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The upper floor of the museum features a loft overlooking the Muriel. In this exhibit they address one of the most famous aspects of her life... her disappearance. Amelia vanished on July 2, 1937, just shy of her 40th birthday on July 24. There are many theories as to what happened, including some very recent scientific discoveries that may reveal more answers in the near future. Visitors learn about navigating with the stars, the history of her search, and the many theories about her disappearance. They also have the opportunity to pose their own theories.

The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is a wonderful museum in NE Kansas where visitors can get lost in inspiration for an afternoon or a day. From hands-on exhibits encouraging an interest in the S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, to the story of a truly inspirational woman, to the mystery and intrigue behind her final flight... this museum is a must-see in Kansas for all ages.