Pacific Aviation Museum Celebrates Amelia Earhart

PRESS RELEASE – Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor will celebrate famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart’s 118th birthday with a “Happy Birthday, Amelia!” party, offering free admission to visitors dressed in period aviation costume, Friday, July 24, 8 am to 5 pm. Free admission will also apply to accompanying family members, as well.In addition to the free admission, visitors will be able to view the Museum’s unique “Amelia Earhart in Hawaii” photo exhibit donated by Matson Corporation, enjoy free birthday cake and refreshments, and meet “Amelia” and members of The Aloha Chapter of the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots, of which Earhart was the first president.

There will also be an all ages “Amelia Look Alike” costume contest with judging taking place at 1pm for first, second, and third place prizes. “This is a great annual family event that attracts aviator and Amelia Earhart enthusiasts who enjoy coming to the Museum to celebrate the life and accomplishments of this aviatrix,” said Museum Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff. “Amelia is one of America’s best known civilian pilots, with a very special connection to Hawaii and to all of us at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.”

Born July 24, 1897, Earhart ground-looped her plane on takeoff on the historic Ford Island Runway fronting the Museum, in March 1937, preventing her initial round-the-world flight attempt. Later in 1937, Earhart took a leave of absence from her Purdue University job, hopped in her Purdue-funded “Flying Laboratory” and flew around the globe. Then, she disappeared.Before her disappearance, Earhart set numerous aviation records, including being the first person to fly solo across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.acific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is located on Historic Ford Island. Remnants from the December 7, 1941 attack, which surround the Museum, have been left intact, from the 158-foot tall Ford Island Field Control Tower where the first radio alert of the attack was broadcast, to the bullet-riddled holes in Hangar 79 and along the runway. Through its preservation and restoration of World War II fighter planes and accompanying artifacts in the Museum’s historic Hangars 37 and 79, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor shares the often untold story of the vital role aviation played in America’s winning of World War II, and its continued role in maintaining America’s freedom.

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which depends on membership and donations for support. A Smithsonian Affiliate, it is rated one of the top 10 aviation attractions nationally by TripAdvisor®. It is located at 319 Lexington Boulevard, Historic Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818. Hours of operation are 9am to 5pm daily, with access by free shuttles from the USS Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor.  www.PacificAviationMuseum.org, 808-441-1000.