Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation
The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the world-renowned aviator Amelia Earhart — whose dreams of flying began in her Atchison, Kansas, hometown. Since its founding in 2016, the Foundation has dedicated its efforts to inspiring future aviation and aerospace leaders through the story of Amelia Earhart’s tenacity and determination to overcome obstacles.
Our Mission – To advance Amelia Earhart’s legacy through the study of her life, aviation, and STEM.
Our Vision – Aviation, Education, Exploration – Inspiring others through Amelia Earhart’s life and work.
Our Core Values
- Preservation: We maintain the integrity and history of the artifacts entrusted to us.
- Inspiration: We encourage others to follow Amelia Earhart’s legacy of defying the odds and pursuing their dreams.
- Panoramic: We work with individuals from various countries, cultures, and backgrounds to create an expansive experience for explorers of all ages and walks of life.
- Professionalism: We provide the highest quality of professional standards for the care of our Museum and the experience of those who visit us.
- Education: We provide the highest quality education experience in correlation with national and state STEM curriculum standards.
Major Projects Accomplished
- 2016 – Acquired Muriel — the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E — an aircraft identical to the model Earhart flew on her final flight.
- 2019 – Constructed a 17,000 square foot hangar to house the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.
- 2022 – Spearheaded the campaign to place a statue of Amelia Earhart in the National Hall of Statuary at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Its twin welcomes visitors to the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum.
- 2023 – Completed the $17 million capital campaign and opened the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, operated by the Foundation.
Ladd Seaberg’s Vision
Like Amelia Earhart, Laidacker (Ladd) Mannan Seaberg (1946-2017) was an adventurous spirit. As a young person, Ladd’s high school aviation experiments were awarded 1st place by NASA, the Army Aviation Association, and the U.S. Air Force at the 1964 National Science Fair. The Atchison business leader, philanthropist, and pilot was fascinated with Earhart’s pioneering life and championed countless initiatives to honor Atchison’s most famous resident. Ladd Seaberg and his wife Karen Seaberg believed they had to bring Muriel “home” to Atchison – Amelia’s birthplace and childhood home. Together, they started the Foundation with that vision. Acquiring Muriel and creating a world-class museum devoted to Earhart was his last inspiring gift to her legacy.
Today, Ladd’s wife Karen Seaberg continues Ladd’s vision as the President of the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation.
– Karen Seaberg, Founder and President of the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation
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