MCN 2024

This session will dive into the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum (AEHM)–a first-of-its-kind, tech-focused exhibit where visitors explore Amelia’s remarkable story while immersing themselves in the Art Deco era and early years of flight.

AEHM is not only innovative and inspiring but also highly educational and emphasizes STEM disciplines. The museum’s content was designed to engage students of all ages, particularly those in surrounding rural communities. Two teacher resource documents are available that exceed the National Curriculum, Kansas Curriculum, and Missouri Standards of Learning.

The experience begins with a lifelike portrayal of Amelia, who greets visitors and offers a sneak peek into her life. The digital display warranted 1,000+ hours of research, AI technology and computation to create. Archival photos and videos paired with human talent were used to ensure this portrayal of Amelia was as authentic as possible.

Inside the gallery, audio interactives, digital kiosks and imagery tell the story of Amelia’s youth. Visitors can listen to accounts of her relatives using an antique telephone and get a lesson in physics by cranking the cars of a model roller coaster inspired by Amelia’s homemade version.

“Careers”–an augmented reality (AR) interactive–invites visitors to see themselves in the historical and modern-day professions Amelia employed. Participants step in front of a gesture-reactive screen, then a digital image of their face is overlaid on an avatar that mirrors their movements and shows how they’d look in each uniform.

A timeline wall and 3D holograms showcase the evolution of flight. The capacitive display, accompanied by two aircraft engines and engine pieces, allows visitors to learn how airplanes operate. When participants touch one of the engine pieces, an illustration appears on the screen to showcase its function. Visitors can also test their mechanical eye in an effort to restore Muriel–the world’s last remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E and model Amelia piloted on her final flight.

An imitation of the Muriel cockpit equipped with real flight controls offers a sense of Amelia’s tight flying quarters. Outside the flight deck is a Garmin avionics suite and touchscreen where visitors can browse advancements since Amelia's era.

AEHM’s mezzanine features “Amelia’s Guiding Lights”--a massive ceiling element designed to unveil how Amelia navigated flight paths. By pressing the buttons on the table, each constellation illuminates overhead. Visitors can practice celestial navigation using a sextant, analyze different atmospheric layers and get an up-close look at authentic tools.

Finally, visitors test their pilot skills in a VR flight experience. Stations include two steering yokes and VR headsets. Players embark on a lifelike flight path, piloting to either land successfully in France or reroute to Ireland. AEHM was named one of USA TODAY’S 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best New Museum 2024.