By MATT PIKE
The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison has again been ranked one of the best history museums by USA Today readers.
The museum dropped a spot from where it had been ranked before, from number four, down to number five, with the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia taking its spot just above it at four.
Executive Director Mindi Love Pendergraft isn't hurt by dropping a spot on the list, and says it's great for the state of Kansas
"Our tourism department, Kansas tourism, has done a fabulous job the last several years of promoting Kansas and getting the word out about all the wonderful things and places there are to visit here, so I think it’s a testament to their work,” Pendergraft tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I hope it brings more people from outside of Kansas to visit our state, so I think it’s great.”
Pendergraft says still being in the top five on the list is a big deal because of some of the museums it is going up against
“Many of them are national museums and tell national stories, so to be included on this list and to rank so high is really phenomenal,” Pendergraft explains. “So, we’re pleased with it, I’m sure the Orphan Train is too, the Oz Museum in Wamego was also on the list this year.”
The Oz Museum was ranked number six among the best pop culture museums.
Pendergraft says for the museum being on the list is a great honor, but also presents a great opportunity to get its name out to the nation
"For us it’s just a huge testament to the quality of the museum, to the quality of the opportunities here in Kanas to learn and go to museums and outdoor parks and all of that,” Pendergraft says. “So, for us as a museum it’s great and critically important to drive more visitors to our site.”
And for the city of Atchison, Pendergraft says it's a great honor as well, because of the love the city has for Amelia Earhart
"It’s her birthplace, it’s the place she called home, and so I think for everyone here in Atchison it’s a great honor to have recognition,” Pendergraft says. “It brings a lot of tourism to our city, so certainly that helps with all the businesses, it helps with hotels, it helps with restaurants, it helps with gas stations, and our shops downtown.”
In its first year being nominated, the museum was number four on the list of best new museums. The hangar museum has had visitors from all 50 states, and several different countries throughout its time being open.
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