Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum: Soar To New Heights In Atchison, Kansas!
The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum will have you soaring to new heights! If you’ve got a trip planned to Atchison, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit this top attraction in northeast Kansas.
During a recent road trip around northeast Kansas, I had the pleasure of visiting the newly built (as of 2023) Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum and I have to say, it was thoroughly impressive.
The museum commemorates the legendary aviator who was not only the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, but also the first to do it solo.
Earhart was born and raised in Atchison so it’s only fitting that the iconic aviator is celebrated in her hometown. This museum is just the most recent attraction dedicated in her honor. There are several other places in Atchison that also pay tribute to her which are worth visiting like the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum and Amelia Earhart Earthwork.
Although Earhart was a record-setter and achieved celebrity status for being a trailblazing pioneer, her enduring fame comes from her mysterious disappearance when she attempted to circumnavigate the globe at the equator.
On July 2, 1937, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, took off from Lae, Papua New Guinea. They were never seen again. Despite numerous searches, their disappearance remains a mystery.
Although the majority of interest now surrounding Earhart is due to vanishing on her ill-fated flight around the world, it is not the main focus of this museum.
According to Karen Seaburg, the founder of Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, this museum is about the history of Amelia and the history of flight. Their goal is to get children and adults excited about aviation.
The museum is located, appropriately enough, at the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Inside the 17,000 square-foot hangar are displays that feature state-of-the-art technology. And all of it is hands-on!
The star attraction at the museum is Muriel, the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E airplane. It is identical to the plane Amelia flew on her final flight before she disappeared.
These airplanes are special because only fourteen of them were ever built! Amelia’s plane however was extra special because hers was modified for long haul flights.
Muriel, named after Amelia’s younger sister, was originally purchased in 1979 by a woman named Grace McGuire who bought the plane from Wings and Wheels Museum in Orlando, Florida.
McGuire had plans to restore the plane and recreate Earhart’s attempted circumnavigation. However, after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, McGuire was forced to abandon her ambitions.
That’s when Laidacker Mannan Seaberg comes in. A former pilot and one of the founders of Atchison Area Economic Development Council, he was responsible for the purchasing of Muriel from his long-time friend Grace McGuire. The plane was transported to Atchison in August 2016 and meticulously restored rivet by rivet.
Although Muriel is the reason most people visit Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, there are other displays here that are just as fascinating.
For example, in the “Above The Clouds” zone, visitors can learn how pilots navigated the skies using constellations and radiowaves. There’s also a section here that will teach you how to identify different cloud types to predict weather.
While you’re “above the clouds”, you’ll get clued up on the many theories that surround the disappearance of Amelia Earhart on her failed flight around the world, and see which scenarios are most likely to have happened.
Another highlight at the museum is the full-scale replica of Muriel’s cockpit. The cockpit is surprisingly a very tight squeeze. I am 5’3″ and knocked my head on the roof of the aircraft a couple of times while making my way to the captain’s seat. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it would have been for Amelia who at 5’8″, was taller than myself.
One of the most amusing activity stations here involve visitors having their picture taken and letting augmented reality show what they would look like as a mechanic, pilot, nurse, or fashion designer (all of which Earhart had careers in) during the beginning of the twentieth century.
You can see below what I would have looked like dressed in a typical pilot’s outfit in the 1920s. Pretty spiffy huh?
Not pictured is the biggest crowd pleaser at the museum — the Virtual Reality Flight Experience. During this virtual reality experience you’ll soar across the Atlantic and see what Amelia’s flight over the ocean was like during her attempt at flying around the world. While you pilot the virtual flight, you will be faced with challenges such as bad weather and mechanical problems.
I found the virtual experience to be very realistic. As someone afraid of heights, the start of the experience was a little scary for me, but I focused on the tasks that are prompted during the 15 minute adventure. Just a heads up, I did feel a little dizzy and disorientated afterwards. And actually, I felt that way for a few hours later.
Anyway, in total there are fourteen interactive STEM-inspired exhibits surrounding the centerpiece Lockheed 10-E airplane that feature activity stations. The activity stations are designed to be both educational and entertaining covering topics such as history, technology, maths and engineering.
I suggest setting aside two hours for your visit to make sure you have time to connect with all of the activity stations at Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.
Upon entering the museum, you’ll be greeted by a holographic Amelia Earhart who will welcome you with a realistic computer generated version of her voice.
You will then proceed into the museum where a staff member will give you a quick introduction to Muriel before allowing you to explore the museum.
When you are ready to leave, exit the museum and take a quick look around the gift store incase there is anything you might like to take home as a souvenir.
Around the corner from the gift store is a short hallway that will take you to Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Visitors to the museum are permitted to visit the waiting area so if you’re a curious cat like me, be sure to go and have a quick gander.
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself” — Amelia Earhart
Where To Stay In Atchison
Atchison doesn’t have many options when it comes to hotels. The best hotel in Atchison is the Holiday Inn Express. For more options, take a look at these vacation homes in Atchison or consider staying in Leavenworth where there are more properties to choose from.
Holiday Inn Express: This hotel is located in downtown Atchison and only three blocks from the Missouri River. The property features large rooms, an indoor pool, and buffet breakfast.
Fairfield Inn & Suites: This hotel in Leavenworth features free daily buffet breakfast, an outdoor pool, and beautiful outdoor patio. Rooms are spacious and clean.
Large Luxury Cottage: This gorgeous English Tudor cottage is light-filled and features sophisticated furniture. Bedrooms have luxury linens and fine decor.
Where Is Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum?
You’ll find Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum on Amelia Earhart Road in Atchison, Kansas. It’s about three miles west of downtown.
You can easily visit this museum as a day trip from Kansas City. If you are coming from out of state, you can visit the museum on this northeast Kansas road trip.
- Need to rent a car for your trip? Use rentalcars.com to compare rental prices between car companies.
- Prefer RV or campervan travel? Search Outdoorsy for RVs and campervan rentals for your next road trip adventure!
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