Amelia Earhart hails from Atchison, Kansas

Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas

 

Amelia Earhart sought to become the first woman to fly solo around the world in the 1930s. Sadly, she didn’t make it. Earhart’s plane disappeared near the Nukumanu Islands in the Pacific Ocean. She was en route to Howland Island.

Earhart’s flight started in Miami, Florida, June 1, 1937. Her plane disappeared July 2nd. Her remains were never recovered. She was declared legally deceased in 1939.

Though, neither her plane nor her remains have been recovered, the mystery surrounding Amelia Earhart never goes away. Recently, news organizations have reported the possible finding of a piece of the plane by an investigator. It’s believed that the piece found was a patch that would have been specifically designed for her plane. We’ll see what comes of it.

Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas

Earhart has been an international figure, but her story began on the plains of America. Earhart was born in 1897 at the home of her maternal grandparents in Atchison, in northeastern Kansas.

She lived in Atchison with her sister (Muriel) and grandparents while her parents traveled to find work. Her parents lived in Kansas City, Missouri, for a time before settling in Des Moines. The girls reunited with their parents in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1909. A few years later after some more moves, Amelia’s mother left their father and took the girls to Chicago. Earhart graduated high school there.

The home in Atchison was turned into a museum to recognize and honor the community’s most famous resident. The city has had its share of dignitaries, but I dare to think anyone is more well-known than Amelia Earhart.

The house overlooks a park next to the Missouri River. It would be easy to imagine the noted “Tom Boy” playing in the area as a youth.

Atchison Kansas is home to the birthplace of Amelia Earhart

Some of the furniture in the house actually belonged to the Otis family – Amelia’s grandparents. Some pieces are from the period they lived there and have been donated.

Each room has some form of memorabilia about Earhart. The table that’s used for people to sign the guest book was donated by her sister, Muriel

The house itself appears to have been a large one for the late 1800s and early 1900s. The front parlor is spacious.

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The second parlor is next to the front room. Also referred to as the library, it houses several items related to Earhart.

Amelia Earhart BIrthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas

The sun room is a smaller room, which may have once been used as a breakfast room or sewing room. A model of Earhart’s last plane – Lockheed Electra 10E – hangs from the ceiling.

Amelia Earhart in Atchison, Kansas

The original kitchen serves a joint purpose – displaying items related to her flight from Oakland, California, to Hawaii in early 1937, as well as the museum’s gift shop. As a side note: the souvenirs are quite reasonably priced.

Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum

The formal dining room was built in 1873. It was restored in 2005. It has the original stained glass window. I loved the design of the glass. Two glass panes provided a great view of some of the trees with leaves changing colors on a beautiful fall morning.

Stained Glass Window at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum

The dining room also has an exhibit featuring the clothes worn by two-time Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank in the movie “Amelia.” It also starred Richard Gere, as Amelia’s husband, George Putnam.

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Another room on the first floor is the north parlor or the judge’s study (her grandfather Alfred Otis was a judge). Inside the room, among the many items on display, an oil painting of Putnam and Earhart hangs on one wall. It was painted for their wedding.

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A bust of Amelia is also located in the room.

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On the second floor, a large bedroom features windows that provide a beautiful view of the park and river. This room was once divided into two smaller rooms (the wall was removed in the 1920s). The room features family and personal items.

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A set of luggage that was officially endorsed by Amelia Earhart is in the room.

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Two additional bedrooms are located on the second floor. One room offers visitors a view of exhibits, such as a painting of Amelia with her first plane.

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The second room is for researchers and is not available during tours.

The property was beautiful and well-maintained. The tour was definitely worth the $5 admission fee. You can move at your own pace. Docents are also available to answer questions visitors may have.

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All things Amelia are not restricted to the museum. At the Commercial Street Mall, a life-size statue of Earhart greets visitors as they stroll through the mall.

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At Warnick Lake, an earthworks profile of Earhart’s face lays on a hillside. An observation deck is located nearby.

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The city celebrates Amelia Earhart Festival every July.

If you visit Atchison, ensure you check out the Amelia Earhart-related attractions. They should be on your must-see list.

For more information on the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, please visit http://www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org/index.html.