International Forest of Friendship

Each of our visits has been fun, relaxing, and inspirational. The International Forest of Friendship, located near Atchison, Kansas (Amelia Earhart’s home town) was a Bicentennial gift to our nation from the city of Atchison, the Ninety-Nines (the International Organization of Women Pilots), and the Kansas State University Forestry Extension. The Forest is nestled on a gentle slope overlooking Lake Warnock, on the outskirts of Atchison, and contains trees from all 50 states plus 35 territories and foreign countries. The Forest is devoted to "World Friendship Through Flying." There are trees from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, the Bicentennial American Spruce, a tree from Amelia's grandfather's farm, and the Moon Tree grown from a seed taken to the moon by Command Pilot Stuart Roosa on Apollo 14. This latter tree honors the 17 astronauts who have given their lives in America's pioneering of space exploration. In 2003 a monument near the tree was dedicated to the seven astronauts lost on Shuttle Columbia. Winding through the Forest is Memory Lane, honoring those who have, or still are, contributing to all facets of aviation and aerospace. It is a five-foot wide (wheel chair friendly) walk, and embedded in the concrete walk are granite plaques engraved with the names of over 1,200 honorees, including such aviation notables as Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Jeana Yeager, the Wright Brothers, Sally Ride, Chuck Yeager, General "Jimmy" Doolittle, and Col Eileen M. Collins, the first woman to pilot a shuttle into space. In 1976, Memory Lane was designated as the first National Recreation Trail in Kansas. Nearby are the Amelia Earhart Earthworks and the Lake Warnock picnic grounds. The Forest is free, and is open year-round. Each year, during the third weekend of June, there is a celebration in Atchison to induct new honorees and promote the goals of the Forest. The 2005 theme (June 17-19) will focus on “Forests and Flying,” emphasizing people who have contributed to forestry and also who have connections to aviation. More information about the International Forest of Friendship and the ceremonies can be found at www.ifof.org