A Closer Look at Amelia Earhart’s Life

Many people are fascinated by mysteries, and perhaps no mystery has resonated as powerfully with the American people throughout history as the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.

Ninety years ago, this aviation pioneer earned her place in American history as the first woman (and second person ever) to complete a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Nicknamed Lady Lindy because only Charles Lindbergh had crossed the Atlantic before her, Earhart completed her 15-hour journey from Harbor Grace in Newfoundland, Canada, to Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in a red Lockheed Vega on May 20-21, 1932.

Earhart instantly became a worldwide sensation, and her legacy became even greater (and cloudier) when she disappeared five years later while seeking to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. To honor the 90th anniversary of her transatlantic flight, take a closer look at the life of Amelia Earhart and discover how she became one of the world’s most recognized females.

1897 Amelia was born in Kansas to Samuel “Edwin” and Amelia “Amy” Earhart.

1908 Amelia saw her first airplane when she attended a local fair.

1916 Amelia did well in college and started to consider working in a man’s world.

1917 While working as a nurse’s aide in Canada, Amelia was invited to watch an air show and was fascinated.

1920 To be with her family, Amelia moved to California, where she attended air shows and decided she wanted to try flying herself.

1921 Amelia purchased her first airplane after eight months of flying.

1922 Amelia took her airplane up to 14,000 feet, a record at the time for women pilots.

1923 At the age of 26, Amelia is inducted into the Aeronautical Hall of Fame for her contribution to the
astronautical field.

1925 After moving to Boston, Amelia had to sell her beloved airplane but started flying again later.

1929 Amelia took third place in an airplane race from Los Angeles to Cleveland.

1931 Following a sixth proposal from George Palmer Putnam, Amelia Earhart marries the book publisher who had previously published books by Charles Lindbergh.

1932 Amelia set a goal to be the only person to cross the Atlantic in an airplane twice.

1935 Amelia managed two more flights that put her in the record book. She made the first Pacific Ocean flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, California. She also became the first person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City after an invitation from the Mexican government.

1935 Amelia is invited to teach at Purdue University as a visiting faculty member to encourage women to
follow their dreams.

1937 Amelia decides to fly around the world, but about two-thirds of the way through her flight, her plane disappears on July 2, 1937, and most likely crashes in the Pacific Ocean after running out of gas somewhere near Howland Island in the central Pacific Ocean.