Amelia Earhart's Kansas Roots & The Atchison Hangar Museum

She vanished over the Pacific in 1937 — and nearly 90 years later, the world still can't stop talking about her. In this episode, Mindy sits down with Jacque Pregont, treasurer of the Amelia Earhart Foundation, to uncover the surprising Kansas roots of one of history's most iconic aviators and pull back the curtain on the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison, KS — one of the coolest day trips from Kansas City you probably haven't taken yet (but absolutely should).

In this episode:

• Amelia's childhood in Atchison and why she always called it home
• The wild 30-year journey to restore the last Lockheed 10E Electra — the same model she was flying when she disappeared
• The $17M museum experience built with Kansas City's own Dimensional Innovations (yes, the same team behind Atlas9!)
• VR flights across the Atlantic, riveting contests, and STEM activities for all ages
• The unsolved mystery — from Japanese spy theories to giant crabs 🦀
• The annual Amelia Earhart Festival (July 17–18!) featuring concerts, an air show, fireworks set to music, and a pioneering achievement award
• New books, ongoing search expeditions, and why Jacque kind of hopes they never find the plane

Whether you're a Kansas City local planning a weekend day trip, a history buff, a STEM-curious family, or just obsessed with unsolved mysteries — this one's for you.

Links & Resources:

• 🌐 Visit Atchison: [visitatchison.com]
• ✈️ Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum: [ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org]
• 🎟️ Festival info & tickets: [Link placeholder]
• 📍 Plan your KC-area day trip: [Link placeholder]

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Chapters:

0:00   – Welcome & Introducing Jacque Pregont
1:12   – Jacque's Role: Foundation Treasurer & Gift Shop Queen
2:04   – Amelia's Kansas Roots & Atchison Childhood
3:12   – The Amelia Earhart Festival: 25+ Years Strong
3:47   – The Last Lockheed 10E: A 30-Year Restoration Story
4:18   – How the Hangar Museum Was Born
5:02   – Building the Museum with Dimensional Innovations
6:10   – USA Today's Best History Museum Rankings
7:22   – Why Are We Still Fascinated with Amelia Earhart?
9:42   – Jacque's Personal Journey with the Foundation
11:00  – What Does the Foundation Actually Do?
13:45  – Amelia's Path to Aviation (and All the Jobs She Worked)
15:31  – Inside the Museum: STEM Activities & Hands-On Experiences
15:56  – The VR Atlantic Flight Experience
17:17  – Riveting Contests & The Plane Up Close
18:07  – Virtual Dress-Up: Fashion Designer, Pilot & More
19:35  – Amelia's Childhood Stories: Rollercoasters & Sleds
22:44  – More Museum Highlights: Cockpit Replica & Constellations
24:06  – Visitors from All 50 States & 21 Countries
28:06  – The Unsolved Mystery: Theories & the Voting Wall
32:08  – Festival Deep Dive: Concerts, Air Shows & Fireworks
32:58  – The Pioneering Achievement Award & Past Honorees
35:38  – New Expeditions to Find the Plane (NCO Update)
43:52  – Should the Mystery Ever Be Solved?
45:19  – Book Recommendations & New Releases
49:40  – Documentaries Worth Watching
51:06  – Things to See Around Atchison Beyond the Museum
53:13  – How to Support the Foundation & Visit
54:37  – It's Only 35–40 Minutes from KC!
55:01  – Closing & $2 Festival Buttons for Fireworks 🎆

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!