Blown away. That’s how I felt when I visited the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum. This history museum fully immerses you in the story of the legendary aviator from Atchison, and the world of aviation.
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Thank you to Kansas Tourism and the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum for providing me with complimentary admission to the museum. All opinions are my own.
Step into Amelia’s world
When you enter the museum’s lobby and gift shop, you’re greeted by Amelia Earhart herself! Or rather, by an incredibly life-like CGI simulation of her. It was so realistic, I had to ask the docent if it was real (colorized) footage.
@dinkumtribe I’m regularly impressed with the things we can do with CGI nowadays. This simulation was so lifelike! #tothestarsks #aviationlovers #aviation @AmeliaEarhartHangarMuseum ♬ original sound – DinkumTribe ADHD family travel
As a lifelong admirer of Amelia Earhart, I was both delighted and awed at this unexpected opportunity to “see” my heroine. And it was just the beginning!
Throughout the museum, you’re surrounded by the sounds, sights, and stories of aviation’s golden age—and the woman who helped shape it.
The centerpiece of the museum – Muriel
Central to the museum is Muriel, the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E aircraft (the same model Amelia flew). Meticulously restored and named after Amelia Earhart’s sister, Muriel sparkles under the museum lights.
Our guide explained to us that the rest of these aircraft were pressed into service in WW2. Amelia’s original aircraft was lost over the South Pacific in 1937, an unsolved mystery to this day.
Why did Amelia choose this airplane model for her circumnavigation attempt? Another docent explained that she loved the hydraulic-operated landing gear, an innovation that made takeoffs and landings much easier for a lone pilot to manage.
@dinkumtribe #hosted Demonstrating how hydraulics were used to improve landing gear on airplanes at the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum. #tothestarsks @AmeliaEarhartHangarMuseum #hydraulics #aircraft #stemtok ♬ original sound – DinkumTribe ADHD family travel
The docent showed us a model of hydraulic landing gear from the museum’s STEM education programs. It was fascinating to see the science in action!
Interactive exhibits around the museum
The museum exhibits take you through Amelia’s life chronologically, beginning with her early life in her hometown of Atchison. (Note: today you can even visit her first home at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum).
Born in 1897, Amelia Earhart grew up with an insatiable curiosity and a taste for adventure. Her childhood was filled with tree-climbing, bug collecting, and backyard experiments – which reminded me of my own neurodivergent kids!
One exhibit talks about Amelia building her own roller coaster off her family’s shed roof. You can experiment with different crates and angles to figure out the physics of “rolly coasters,” as she called them.
A digitized scrapbook allows you to flip through photos and stories of the bold women who inspired Amelia. You can also try an old fashioned telephone, and learn how our brains respond to roller coasters and other risk-taking activities.
Amelia Earhart’s adventurous life
One of my favorite exhibits allows you to create a digital avatar and see yourself in several of Amelia’s career choices. Amelia Earhart worked dozens of different jobs before she became a pilot, including nurse, mechanic, and fashion designer.
Amelia’s Electra was held together by nearly 85,000 metal rivets. Another exhibit lets you test your own riveting skills and discover the craftsmanship it takes to build an aircraft. It’s WAY harder than it looks!
Of course, I had to snap a photo dressed as Rosie the Riveter, too.
Amelia earned her pilot’s license in 1923, only a short time after women in America obtained the right to vote. Despite facing countless challenges, Amelia became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.
But that was only the beginning for Amelia Earhart. Her dedication and hard work paid off as she broke altitude and speed records. She also helped found the Ninety-Nines (an organization for women pilots).
Amelia Earhart’s aviation legacy
You can climb into a full-scale replica of Muriel’s cockpit and see the world from Amelia’s perspective inside her “cozy cubbyhole.” Why was it so cramped? She filled her cockpit with extra fuel so that she could refuel mid-air!
The museum invites visitors to connect with Amelia’s story on multiple levels. Go “above the clouds” to see how Amelia and her navigator Fred Noonan relied on radio waves, sextants, and quick mental math to stay on course.
I found it fascinating to turn on “Amelia’s guiding lights” and watch constellations light up on the ceiling. This celestial navigation exhibit showed how starlight helped guide her during night flights.
I loved listening to actual radio recordings of Amelia Earhart’s voice from her interviews. Listening to her tell about losing her map out the window during flight was a stark reminder of the dangers of early aviation.
Take flight (virtually!)
One of the coolest experiences at this wonderful museum is their virtual reality flight simulator. This ticketed VR experience lets you pilot Amelia’s 1932 transatlantic flight.
Trying the flight simulator really gave me perspective for Amelia’s experience. I could feel the turbulence, try navigating by instruments, and attempt to land in the right place (Paris).
However, like Amelia, I ended up in a sheep farm in Northern Ireland! It’s an unforgettable way to experience her courage firsthand.
The mystery of her final flight
The museum’s final exhibit gives you the opportunity to explore theories about Amelia’s disappearance. At the height of her worldwide fame, Amelia and her navigator attempted to circumnavigate the globe in 1937.
Their plane disappeared in the South Pacific, and to this day, no one is certain what happened. Study the maps, clues, and ongoing research, then vote on what you think happened to Amelia and Fred Noonan when they vanished.
Why it’s worth the trip
Nearly a century later, Amelia Earhart’s courage, innovation, and determination continue to inspire. The museum that bears her name captures that legacy beautifully as it inspires future generations.
As Amelia herself once said: “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” If you’ve ever dreamed of flying, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison, Kansas, is a must-see.
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©️ Copyright Jennifer D. Warren 2025
