National Amelia Earhart Day
July 24
About National Amelia Earhart Day
National Amelia Earhart Day is observed every year on 24 July in the United States, marking the birthday of the pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart, who was born on 24 July 1897. The day honours her record-breaking flights, her advocacy for women in aviation, and the enduring fascination with her disappearance over the Pacific in 1937.
The Story Behind National Amelia Earhart Day
Amelia Mary Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, on 24 July 1897. She did not see an aeroplane up close until she was in her early twenties, but a ten-minute flight over Los Angeles in December 1920, paid for with a few dollars, changed the course of her life. Within days she had resolved to learn to fly, and she took her first lessons from Neta Snook, one of the few female flight instructors of the era. By 1922 she had bought her own aircraft, a bright yellow Kinner Airster she nicknamed “The Canary”, and set an unofficial altitude record for women of around 14,000 feet.
Earhart first reached international fame in 1928, when she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic by aeroplane. On that occasion she travelled as a passenger while Wilmer Stultz piloted the aircraft, and she was characteristically modest about her role, remarking that she had been little more than “a sack of potatoes”. The experience left her determined to make the crossing on her own terms. She achieved exactly that on 20 May 1932, taking off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in a red Lockheed Vega 5B and landing in a field in Northern Ireland roughly fifteen hours later, having battled icing, a leaking fuel tank and a cracked exhaust manifold along the way.
The 1932 flight made her the first woman to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic. In recognition, the United States Congress awarded her the Distinguished Flying Cross, a decoration normally reserved for military aviators, making Earhart the first woman to receive it. She went on to set further records, including the first solo flight from Hawaii to the American mainland in 1935. Throughout the 1930s she was one of the most recognisable women in the world, a best-selling author and a tireless promoter of commercial air travel and of opportunities for women.
Her final and most ambitious undertaking was an attempt to circumnavigate the globe near the equator. Setting out from Oakland, California, in the summer of 1937 with navigator Fred Noonan, she had completed roughly two-thirds of the journey when the pair left Lae, New Guinea, on 2 July bound for tiny Howland Island in the central Pacific. They never arrived. Despite an enormous search effort, no confirmed trace of Earhart, Noonan or their Lockheed Electra was ever found, and the United States government concluded they had run out of fuel and gone down at sea. National Amelia Earhart Day grew out of the public’s lasting admiration for her achievements and the mystery that surrounds her final flight.
When and Where is National Amelia Earhart Day Celebrated?
National Amelia Earhart Day falls on 24 July each year, which in 2026 is a Friday. The date is fixed to Earhart’s birthday and does not change from year to year. The observance is primarily marked in the United States, with particular enthusiasm in her home state of Kansas, where the city of Atchison holds an annual festival in her honour. Museums, libraries, aviation organisations and schools across the country also use the day to celebrate her life and to encourage interest in flight and exploration.
Traditions and Customs
Communities mark National Amelia Earhart Day in a variety of ways, blending remembrance with education and a sense of adventure.
- The Amelia Earhart Festival – Atchison, Kansas, hosts a long-running summer festival featuring an aerobatics display, live music and a fireworks finale over the Missouri River, drawing thousands of visitors to the aviator’s birthplace.
- Museum visits and exhibitions – The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum and institutions such as the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which holds her Lockheed Vega, see increased interest around the date.
- Reading her own words – Many people mark the day by reading Earhart’s books, including 20 Hrs., 40 Min. and The Fun of It, which she wrote about her flying career.
- Honouring women in aviation – The Ninety-Nines, the organisation of female pilots Earhart helped found and first led, often use the occasion to highlight the achievements of women in the field.
- Inspiring young people – Teachers and parents share her story to encourage girls and boys alike to pursue science, exploration and careers once thought beyond their reach.
Ways to Celebrate National Amelia Earhart Day
There are plenty of ways to take part, whether you are a lifelong aviation enthusiast or simply curious about one of history’s most remarkable lives.
- Learn her full story – Read a biography or watch a documentary about Earhart to understand the obstacles she overcame in a male-dominated field.
- Visit an aviation museum – Spend the day among historic aircraft and exhibits that bring the early decades of flight to life.
- Support women in aviation – Donate to or share the work of organisations such as the Ninety-Nines that continue Earhart’s mission of opening the skies to women.
- Take a discovery flight – Many local airfields offer short introductory flights, a fitting tribute to the ten-minute ride that set Earhart on her path.
- Read one of her books – Pick up Earhart’s own writing to hear her adventures described in her own clear, determined voice.
- Share her legacy online – Post a favourite quote or fact about Earhart to introduce her story to a new audience.
Facts and Figures
- Amelia Earhart was born on 24 July 1897 in Atchison, Kansas.
- In 1932 she became the first woman to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic, completing the crossing in roughly fifteen hours.
- She was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, a decoration usually reserved for military pilots.
- In 1929 she helped found the Ninety-Nines, an international organisation of female pilots, and became its first president in 1930.
- She disappeared on 2 July 1937 over the Pacific while attempting to fly around the world with navigator Fred Noonan, and the wreckage has never been confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Amelia Earhart Day?
National Amelia Earhart Day is an annual American observance held on 24 July to honour the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart on her birthday. It celebrates her record-breaking flights, her championing of women in aviation, and her lasting place in history.
When is National Amelia Earhart Day in 2026?
National Amelia Earhart Day takes place on Friday, 24 July 2026. The date is fixed to Earhart’s birthday and is the same every year.
What happened to Amelia Earhart?
On 2 July 1937, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the central Pacific while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Despite extensive searches, no confirmed trace was found, and her disappearance remains one of history’s most enduring mysteries.
Spread the Word
Share National Amelia Earhart Day with your community using #AmeliaEarhartDay and #AmeliaEarhartDay2026. Whether you mark the occasion by visiting a museum, reading her writing or simply telling her story to a young person, every bit of awareness helps keep her remarkable legacy alive.
Related Awareness Days
- National Aviation Day – A US observance celebrating the history and progress of flight, marked each August.
- Wright Brothers Day – Honours Orville and Wilbur Wright and the first powered aeroplane flight in 1903.
- Pan American Aviation Day – Recognises the role of aviation in connecting the nations of the Americas.
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