Latest Museum News
Stay up to date on the latest news from the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation and Hangar Museum as well as information about our programs, collections, and events that inspire and ignite our visitors’ love of aviation.
News Releases
From newspapers to television stations, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is drawing attention from all across the nation. Here is a glimpse of the latest museum coverage and news releases.
- February 18, 2026 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Ranked 5th Best History Museum by 2026 USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards
- January 12, 2026 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Nominated for Third Consecutive Year for USA Today Readers’ Choice Award
- November 11, 2025 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Launches Free Online Curriculum in partnership with Dr. Ben Carson’s Little Patriots learning program
- July 10, 2025 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Hosts New Earhart Biographer
- February 20, 2025 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Ranked 4th Best History Museum in USA TODAY’S 2025 Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest
- January 14, 2025 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best History Museums Reader’s Choice Awards for 2025
- June 19, 2024 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum to present “ADVENTURE AMELIA: A Conversation with Explorers in the Search for Amelia Earhart’s Plane” (Fri., July 19) and “DEEP DIVE WITH DEEP SEA VISION” (Sat., July 20) featuring Tony Romeo whose recent discovery on the Pacific Ocean floor is capturing the world’s attention
- January 5, 2024 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Voted Among Top 10 Best New Museums in USA TODAY’S 2024 Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest
- December 13, 2023 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum contender for top new museum in the United States
- December 4, 2023 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum a finalist for USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Award
- September 9, 2023 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum to Receive GEMmy Award
- July 18, 2023 Mindi Love Pendergraft Leads New Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum and Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation as Executive Director to Expand Partnerships and Programs
- March 28, 2023 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum Hosts Grand-Opening Weekend with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Noon on Friday, April 14
- February 14, 2023 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum announces Boeing, Bombardier as new sponsors of state-of-the-art STEM and history museum opening April 14
- January 10, 2023 Grand Opening of Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum set for April 14, 2023
- September 19, 2022 Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation to Host Public Unveiling Ceremony of Amelia Earhart Statue at the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum on Saturday, Sep. 24
- July 29, 2022 Amelia Earhart statue unveiled at U.S. Capitol; Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation led statue project for State of Kansas
- July 11, 2022 Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation Announces Unveiling of Amelia Earhart Statue in National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, July 27
- May 12, 2022 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum to commemorate 90th anniversary of Earhart’s groundbreaking solo flight with transatlantic partners in Derry, Northern Ireland, May 20-21
- April 13, 2022 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum receives lead support from FedEx, Garmin, Lockheed Martin to honor Earhart’s aviation legacy; inspire future generations in pursuit of flight.
Museum’s Grand Opening
The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum celebrated its Grand Opening opened April 14, 2023, to a crowd of 1,500 including elected officials, sponsors, and members of the Earhart family. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly shared, “I’m so glad there will be a place dedicated to showcasing how a fearless Kansan blazed her own trail to become one of the most admired women in the world — inspiring all, especially young girls, for generations to come.” The 14,000 sq. ft. museum, located at the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport (K59) welcomes all with a passion and interest in Amelia Earhart and Aviation to visit – from drive-in to fly-in visits by pilots. The Museum is proudly supported by key aviation industry leaders including Boeing, Bombardier, FedEx, Garmin, Lockheed Martin, NASA and the State of Kansas. The Museum is also supported by many local and national philanthropic organizations including the Donn Lux Family, the Guy Bromley Trust, the Patterson Family Foundation, the Regnier Family Foundation, the Fly With Amelia Foundation, the Stauffer Jambrosic Foundation, the Sunderland Foundation, and the William T. Kemper Foundation, among others. Support from the Atchison, Kan., community includes local employers Amberwell Health, Benedictine College, MGP Ingredients and many individuals. Smithsonian Magazine named it one of the “most anticipated museum openings” of 2023. The Museum was awarded a 2023 GEMmy award by the Midwest Travel Journalists Association; in 2024, the Museum ranked 4th Best New Museum in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Award and in 2025, it was ranked the 4th Best History Museum by USA Today readers. Since opening, the Museum has welcomed over 50,000 visitors from all 50 US states and over 30 counties.
Grand Opening Coverage of the Museum
Read how the Museum’s opening was received nationwide!
CNN: See a twin of Amelia Earhart’s last plane as new museum opens
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KCUR 98.3 NPR in Kansas City: A new museum in Amelia Earhart’s Kansas hometown honors her pioneering legacy in flight
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KC Today: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum taking flight in Atchison, KS
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Topeka Capital-Journal: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison to show historic plane and interactive exhibits
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KMBC 9 News – Kansas City: New Amelia Earhart museum set to honor the aviation legend in her hometown of Atchison
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AOPA Foundation: Hamburger Flight to Amelia Earhart Airport Makes History Interactive
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Planet Attractions: Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum honours hometown aviation hero in Kansas
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General Aviation News: New Earhart museum set to open April 14
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Skies Magazine: Grand opening set for Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
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– Karen Seaberg, Founder and President of the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you do not. Tickets are available for purchase upon arrival at the Museum.
The exhibits at the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum are highly interactive and you won’t want to miss anything! We recommend planning to spend two hours at the Museum.
Visitors are invited to try their own navigation skills and pilot Amelia’s historic 1932 flight across the Atlantic Ocean via virtual reality. The experience mirrors obstacles Amelia overcame to become the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic. Visitors will be provided a virtual reality headset that will place them inside the cockpit of Amelia’s “Little Red Bus”, a Lockheed Vega 5B.
Given the option of “easy” or “challenging” mode, visitors will follow prompts to fly to Paris, France. If you succeed, you will land in Paris, France; fail, like Amelia did, and you will land in Northern Ireland! Adventure awaits!
Yes! The museum recommends parental discretion for children younger than 10, as the virtual reality flight is highly immersive; some scenes including nighttime views, rain, lightening, and thunder. Smaller children may lack strength to hold the VR glasses on their heads properly. We are happy to test the fit and discuss further upon your arrival to aid in your decision! The VR experience is roughly four minutes once the headset is secured.
Yes! The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum offers a wonderfully curated gift shop with offerings for every visitor. The shop is also available online here.
When you arrive on airport property, please follow the road north until you see the Museum on your left. Please park in the lot directly in front of the Museum, where parking is free. Under no circumstances are vehicles allowed on the runway – please stay on the east side of the airport fence for your safety.
Yes! The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, the home Amelia was born in, is approximately a 10 minute drive away at 223 N. Terrace Street. The museum is operated by the International Ninety-Nines and is not affiliated with the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum. Please check their website for hours and ticket pricing, as it varies from ours.
Yes! The Museum is proudly located at the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport and shares a building with the airport staff. We are thrilled to be able to offer resources to visitors wanting to pursue a pilot’s license, ground school, or instrument ratings. Ask a Museum staff member about taking an introductory flight with a K59 CFI today!
Fly-in guests to K59 are able to tie down free of charge on concrete or in the grass. The FBO offers a courtesy car that guests are able to take to grab lunch and see other Atchison sights, but cannot be kept overnight. To coordinate your arrival or ask any further questions, please call the FBO at 913-426-5757.
Yes! Museum exhibits are accessible to those of various abilities, as are the restrooms. The mezzanine level within the Museum is accessible by elevator. Read more about our ADA Accessibility.
Please let us know if you need any special accommodations 48 hours in advance of your visit by emailing [email protected] or calling 913-372-0021. We will make every effort to meet reasonable accommodation requests.
Media Inquiries & Press Kit
Help us spread the word! If you would like to promote or cover the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum, all media inquiries should be directed to [email protected] or call 913-372-0021. Please click here to access our press kit, which includes photos, logos, and archived press releases.
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