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Discover Mid-America — January 2006

A visit to Amelia Earhart’s birthplace

Amelia Earhart, who thrilled America in the late 1920s and 1930s with her flying exploits, was born in Atchison, KS. The house where she spent her childhood was built in 1861 and enlarged in 1873. In 1984, it was purchased and restored by The Ninety Nines, an international organization of women pilots founded by Earhart.

During her childhood Earhart lived in the house, located at 223 N. Terrace St., with her maternal grandparents, Judge Alfred Otis and Amelia Harres Otis. Her father, a lawyer and railroad claims agent, traveled extensively and was seldom at home.

Earhart grew up a tomboy and first flew in 1920. A year later, she bought her first airplane, a Kinner Airster. Shortly afterwards, Earhart flew the small biplane to an altitude record of 14,000 feet. In 1928, she became part of a three-person flight team to cross the Atlantic, and received national acclaim after the successful flight.

In 1931, she married George Putnam, a publisher who had helped promote her earlier flight and strongly supported her adventurous spirit. The following year she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Four years later, she became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific from Honolulu to Oakland, CA.

On July 2, 1937, Amelia and her navigator, Fred Noonan, took off from Miami in an attempt to complete the first circumnavigation of the globe. After completing all but 7,000 miles of the 29,000-mile journey, they disappeared over the Pacific. Although extensive searches were conducted, the pair and their Lockheed Electra were never found.

Located on a high bluff overlooking the Missouri River, Earhart’s birthplace stands as a tribute to the plucky aviator. Its purchase, restoration and continued care is also a tribute to the efforts of The Ninety Nines, who purchased the home through a gift from Dr. Eugene Bribach, an Atchison physician. In 1994, an autonomous Board of Trustees was elected, composed of Ninety Nines members and Atchison residents. They maintain the home year-round.

My recent tour of the home came with help from Sondra Ridgeway, chairman of the Board of Trustees. Like all Ninety Nines members, she is an experienced pilot. Ridgeway said she operated a charter flight service for 29 years in Topeka, KS.

There is obvious pride in Ridgeway’s voice when she talks about the Earhart artifacts, photos, paintings, aircraft models and period furnishings, along with other accomplishments of the Ninety Nines organization.

“Restoration has been an ongoing process,” Ridgeway said. “Funds are limited, and we do what we can.”

While recent exterior painting has the house looking its best that concern about ongoing expenses remains perpetual.

“We worry about heating the home this winter with the expected higher fuel costs,” she said. “Like most old homes with high ceilings and little insulation, it can be expensive to maintain.”

Although most of the furnishings in the home were purchased to reflect the period, a few are actual Earhart pieces, including Earhart’s hope chest, favorite toys of hers and her sister Muriel, original photographs, paintings and other items. Original furniture includes a drop-leaf table and a chest used by Amelia, and her oak writing desk.

The most recent restoration is in the formal dining room, part of the 1873 addition. Hand-stenciled floral designs and painted carved moldings highlight the room along with original stained glass windows.

Nancy Miller-Burg, a Ninety Nine member from Alabama, said the house’s original kitchen is now used as an activities’ room and souvenir area.

“We depend on admissions, souvenir sales and donations to maintain the museum,” Miller-Burg added. “Funds have also been raised through the sale of engraved sidewalk bricks.”

The Earhart Birthplace Museum is open Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday from Feb. 15 to Dec. 15. From Dec. 15 to Feb. 15, it is closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is $3 for adults and fifty cents for children 12 and younger. Call 913-367-4217 or visit www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org for more information.

Closely related to the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum is the International Forest of Friendship at Warnock Lake, southwest of Atchison. The living memorial to Earhart and other aviation pioneers includes a life-size bronze of Earhart and trees from all 50 states and 35 countries. The City of Atchison and The Ninety Nines established the forest as a bicentennial project.

Ken Weyand can be reached at kweyand1@kc.rr.com

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