Let's Have a Moment of Silence

On this day in 1937, one of the coolest people to ever walk the face of the planet disappeared somewhere near Howland Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Amelia Earhart had been the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and in 1937, she was attempting to circle the globe. As we all know, she didn't make it.

When looking back on Amelia Earhart's achievements, it's important to realize what a pioneer she was. Although there were other female pilots in the early 20th century, most women worked in the home--and not necessarily out of choice. As you may recall, women in the US weren't even allowed to vote until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. (When Earhart was 23 years old.) So Amelia's solo flights--which were extremely dangerous--sent a powerful message to the entire world.

These days, though, people are often far more fascinated by Amelia's disappearance than they are by her achievements. Despite a massive search, neither the pilot nor her plane were ever discovered. (My grandfather was part of the search effort!) Some believe the plane crashed and sank. Others say Amelia made it to nearby Gardner Island--where she perished. Discoveries on the island (improvised tools, an old fashioned shoe heel, and even the skeleton of a tall European female) seem to support this theory. The skeleton, of course, would have offered definitive proof, but the bones were misplaced long before modern forensics could confirm their owner's identity.

And, as you might expect, there were also those who claimed that the disappearance was merely a ruse. They said Amelia faked her own death, moved to New Jersey, and assumed the name of Irene Craigmile Bolam. (Interesting theory, but perhaps someone should have asked Irene before they started making a fuss about her.)

Check out Amelia Earhart's Wikipedia entry.
Read about the most recent developments in her disappearance here.