Sepia tone image of Amelia Earhart and her navigator looking at a map to best plan her route

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What Happened to Amelia Earhart?

A brave pilot went missing 85 years ago. Will that mystery ever be solved? 

October 3, 2022
By Blair Rainsford

As You Read: List three reasons why Earhart is called brave. 

© Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard/Bridgeman Images

Born in 1897, Amelia Earhart loved adventure her whole life. When she was a girl, she liked to play sports and collect bugs. Once, she built a roller coaster in her backyard!

When she was 23, she went for her first ride in an airplane. Right away, she decided to become a pilot. But reaching her goal of having adventures in the air wouldn’t be easy. 

Born in 1897, Amelia Earhart loved adventure her whole life. When she was a girl, she liked to play sports. She also collected bugs. Once, she built a roller coaster in her backyard!

When she was 23, she went for her first ride in an airplane. Right away, she decided to become a pilot. But reaching her goal of having adventures in the air wouldn’t be easy. 

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, map out one of their adventures. 

Earhart Learns to Fly

Back then, most pilots were men. In fact, many people thought women shouldn’t have jobs at all. Earhart didn’t agree. 

She started taking flying lessons, and soon she became a pilot. By the time she was 24, she had already set a record. It was for flying higher than any other woman had before.  

Earhart wanted to fly far and fast. In 1932, she was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Then she became the first person to fly across the Pacific Ocean all alone! 

Earhart kept trying new things, and she gave other people the courage to try new things too. People wrote newspaper articles about her. And the president invited her to the White House!

Back then, most pilots were men. In fact, many people thought women shouldn’t have jobs at all. Earhart didn’t agree.

She started taking flying lessons. Soon, she became a pilot. By the time she was 24, she had already set a record. It was for flying higher than any other woman had before. 

Earhart wanted to fly far and fast. In 1932, she was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Then she became the first person to fly across the Pacific Ocean all alone! 

Earhart kept trying new things. She gave other people the courage to try new things too. People wrote newspaper articles about her. And the president invited her to the White House!

NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Earhart’s disappearance was big news around the world. 

Around the World

In 1937, Earhart planned her biggest adventure yet. She wanted to fly around the world. She decided to take along a navigator named Fred Noonan to help read maps.

Earhart and Noonan flew over North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Their next stop was supposed to be a small island in the Pacific Ocean called Howland Island. But their plane never made it there. Earhart and Noonan had disappeared. 

For weeks, the U.S. sent ships and planes to search for them. Over the years, deep-sea robots and trained dogs have also looked for clues. The plane has never been found. Many experts think it probably ran out of gas and crashed into the sea. 

In 1937, Earhart planned her biggest adventure yet. She wanted to fly around the world. She decided to take along a navigator named Fred Noonan to help read maps.

Earhart and Noonan flew over North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Their next stop was supposed to be a small island in the Pacific Ocean called Howland Island. But their plane never made it there. Earhart and Noonan had disappeared. 

For weeks, the U.S. sent ships and planes to search for them. Over the years, deep-sea robots and trained dogs have also looked for clues. The plane has never been found. Many experts think it probably ran out of gas and crashed into the sea. 

© Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard/Bridgeman Images

Earhart walks in front of the plane she was flying when she disappeared.

Earhart the Hero

Earhart disappeared 85 years ago, but she left lessons that last. She showed the world that women could be talented pilots. She taught people to dream big and do what they love. 

The world may never know what happened to Earhart, but it will not soon forget this fearless woman. 

Earhart disappeared 85 years ago, but she left lessons that last. She showed the world that women could be talented pilots. She taught people to dream big and do what they love. 

The world may never know what happened to Earhart, but it will not soon forget this fearless woman. 

Honoring Earhart

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

In July 2022, a statue of Amelia Earhart was placed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Each state chooses two statues to represent them in an area called the National Statuary Hall. Earhart was chosen by Kansas to represent them. 

The governor of Kansas is Laura Kelly. While visiting Earhart’s statue, she said, “Let it be an inspiration for all for generations to come.”

Honoring Earhart

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images


In July 2022, a statue of Amelia Earhart was placed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Each state chooses two statues to represent them in an area called the National Statuary Hall. Earhart was chosen by Kansas to represent them. 

The governor of Kansas is Laura Kelly. While visiting Earhart’s statue, she said, “Let it be an inspiration for all for generations to come.”

  1. Based on the article, what does it mean to set a record? What is one record that Earhart set?
  2. What is the section “Around the World” mainly about?
  3. The author writes that Earhart “left lessons that last.” How does she support this point of view?
  1. Based on the article, what does it mean to set a record? What is one record that Earhart set?
  2. What is the section “Around the World” mainly about?
  3. The author writes that Earhart “left lessons that last.” How does she support this point of view?
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