International Forest of Friendship

Atchison, Kansas, United States

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The International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas, was established in 1976 as a bicentennial gift from the City of Atchison and The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots.

The forest serves as a living memorial celebrating over 1,500 individuals from the United States and more than 36 countries who have contributed to aviation and space exploration. A prominent bronze statue of Amelia Earhart, Atchison’s most famous native, overlooks the site.

The forest includes a walkway with embedded plaques honoring inductees, trees representing all 50 states, and special features like the “Moon Tree,” grown from a seed that traveled to the moon on Apollo 14, surrounded by the Astronaut’s Memorial dedicated to astronauts who lost their lives. Each year in June, new honorees are added to the memorial, maintaining a connection between the legacy of aviation pioneers and future generations.