Stolen Earhart Statue Returns in Time for Anniversary of Solo Flight

Repaired sculpture reinstalled in Harbour Grace on the 94th anniversary of iconic pilot’s historic Atlantic crossing.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 12:22 PM ET

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Meg Godlewski

Stolen and vandalized Amelia Eearhart statue has been restored and reinstalled in Harbour Grace, Canada. [Credit: Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism]

Key Takeaways:

A stolen bronze statue of Amelia Earhart, taken from a municipal park in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, was found cut into pieces, painstakingly repaired, and reinstalled on the 94th anniversary of her solo transatlantic flight.
The community expressed significant concern over the theft and relief at the statue's return and restoration, with a local sculptor completing the extensive repair work over a year.
The reinstallation was celebrated with a ceremony, honoring Earhart's historic May 20, 1932, flight from Harbour Grace, which faced severe weather, a fuel leak, and engine issues before she landed in Northern Ireland.

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The bronze statue of Amelia Earhart stolen from a municipal park in Newfoundland, Canada, in April 2025 has been returned, repaired, and reinstalled on the 94th anniversary (May 20) of her takeoff from Harbour Grace to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

The community of Harbour Grace never forgot its role in the historic aviation event, and there was great concern when thieves made off with the Earhart statue and the commemorative plaque. It was found four months later by a woman walking her dog in a wooded area.