If you’re looking to celebrate one of Kansas’ most daring daughters, Atchison is the place to do it. Amelia Earhart was born here on July 24, 1897, and the town still throws a party in her honor every year. You’ll find two museums and a handful of stops dedicated to her legacy—and all worth the detour.
My first stop was Amelia’s childhood home, and I couldn’t help but think it looked like the house from Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Sure enough, same style of windows. Her house is Gothic Revival, which is like American Gothic’s fancier cousin. (Fun fact: that actual American Gothic house is still standing too—just over in Eldon, Iowa.)
Built in 1861 by Amelia’s grandfather, Judge Otis, the house sits high on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Clearly, Judge Otis wasn’t clipping coupons. Amelia was born here and lived in the house off and on over the years, even as she bounced between Chicago, New York, and LA. No matter where she went, Atchison was always “home.”
Today, the house is a museum with original furniture, family photos, and a peek into Amelia’s early life. You can stand in the room where she was born, see the dining room, and look into her childhood bedroom. The kitchen’s been replaced by the gift shop, but the rest still feels very lived-in and real.
My favorite find? A set of Amelia Earhart branded luggage and handkerchiefs she designed. She was her own brand way before that was a thing.
There’s also a room honoring her husband, George Putnam—her publisher-slash-PR-guy—and a quieter nod to Fred Noonan, her navigator who vanished along with her. He deserves more than a footnote, he was a very accomplished navigator in his time.
Just down the road is the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, home to “Muriel”—the last surviving Lockheed Electra 10-E, the same model Amelia flew on her ill-fated journey. Naturally, I wondered if it was built in Wichita. Nope. Hollywood. Which somehow tracks.
The museum is full of interactive exhibits including this one where your avatar will be dressed in different careers. Not sure if I am a fan of my avatar.
The museum is part of the airport, but really, it feels like the airport is just Muriel’s waiting room. You can even see the plane from the lobby through a giant glass wall—like she’s ready for her close-up.
Inside, the museum walks you through Amelia’s life. One sign said she was “born to a family of dreamers and learners,” and I loved that. When she wasn’t allowed on the roller coaster at the St. Louis World’s Fair because it was a “boy’s ride,” she built her own out of wood, lard, and a shed. That’s grit.
There’s an interactive cockpit (don’t worry, it’s a replica), and I had to try it. Amelia was 5’6″—same as me—and even so, it’s snug. “Cozy” if you’re an optimist, “cramped” if you’re honest. You’ll also find a starry-sky exhibit and a floor painted like Kansas clouds, which kind of stole the show for me.
Turns out, Amelia wasn’t just a pilot. She wrote for Cosmo, gave speeches, had a radio presence, and even launched a clothing line. Basically, she was Oprah before Oprah. In bloomers.
Before heading out, I visited the International Forest of Friendship, a peaceful little path lined with trees from all 50 states and 35 countries. There’s even a “moon tree” grown from a seed taken on Apollo 14. Amelia’s statue stands surrounded by tributes to those who’ve taken to the skies.
A few minutes away is the Amelia Earhart Earthwork—a one-acre portrait made from stone and plants. It’s cool, but the overlook is a bit too far away to get a great view. Still worth a quick stop.
Final stop: the Commercial Street Mall, a splash pad, a plaza, and—yep—another Earhart statue. Because one just isn’t enough when you’re talking about Kansas’ original high-flyer.
Road Trip: Atchison, KS See the rest of all Atchison has to offer.
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