Atchison is known as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. The pioneer woman was born in her grandparents' home on in 1897. The Victorian house is now a museum operated by an organization of women pilots Earhart founded.

The museum, located at 223 North Terrace Street, has been restored to its original condition.

Another Atchison attraction with ties to Earhart is the International Forest of Friendship, also founded with the assistance of the Ninety-Nines. This forest sits on a gentle slope near Atchison's Lake Warnock and is comprised of trees representing the 50 states and over 35 countries. A walkway bearing plaques honoring over 700 men and women for their contributions to the advancement of aviation and aerospace winds through the forest. Trees with noted historical significance are also planted in the forest, including ones from George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, President Eisenhower's farm and the Moon Tree, grown from a seed which traveled to the moon aboard Apollo 14.

Victorian architecture is showcased by numerous Atchison structures. Grand mansions with wrap-around porches, stained glass windows and gargoyles peering from rooftops line Atchison's brick paved streets. Most of these masterpieces are private homes, but a few are open as museums. These include the Evah C. Cray Historical Home, a 25-room Victorian showplace, and the Muchnic Art Gallery, housed in a gorgeous Queen Anne-style mansion.

One of the most popular (and convenient) ways to tour this picturesque city is aboard the Atchison Trolley, which begins its journey at the old Santa Fe depot. After leaving the depot, which now serves as a Kansas Visitor Information Center, the trolley drivers provide a narrated tour past 18 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The trolley also passes by the downtown mall, antique stores, museums and the city's massive stone courthouse and post office, both built in the 1890s. Visitors can step off the trolley at several points along the way.

Visitors to Atchison will find a pleasant shopping diversion along the downtown outdoor pedestrian plaza. The shopping district is beautifully landscaped and is lined with antique stores and specialty shops.

For more additional information, please the Atchison Convention & Visitors CVA at (800) 234-1854 or (913) 267-2427. You can also visit Atchison online at www.atchison.org.

Directions from downtown Kansas City, Missouri to Atchison, Kansas

North on I-29, take exit 20 and follow Missouri Highway 273 to Missouri Highway 45. Go North on Highway 45 to U.S. Highway 59. Take U.S. Highway 59 West four miles to Atchison.