Visit the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport and Learn the History of Aviation

New York State is filled with such fascinating history. The invention of lacrosse. Women’s suffrage movement and the first Women’s Rights Convention. Finger Lakes formed by shifting glaciers. And so much more. Like the origins of aviation and incredible advancements in transportation technology. Which is exactly what you’ll learn all about at the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York.

The museum is filled with both original Curtiss machines as well as incredibly (and historically) accurate reproductions. Visitors can step back in time and learn about the origins of airplanes and how they work. At the museum, you can also see the workshops where other planes are currently being restored.

Who is Glenn Curtiss?

Glenn Curtiss was born on May 21, 1878 in Hammondsport, New York. At a young age he developed a fascination for engineering and mechanics. Appropriately so, his first job was with Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company, which later became Kodak. This was his first step in becoming the aviation and transportation pioneer that left his mark on history.

Curtiss’s passion began with bicycles, but ventured through every other form of transportation. Motorcycles, dirigibles, airplanes, boats, cars, and eventually automobiles.

Glenn Curtiss’s Innovations with Bicycles and Motorcycles

• Glenn Curtiss is credited with inventing both the V3 and V8 engines.
• Curtiss made significant advancements in turning the manually-powered bicycle into an engine-powered motorcycle. He made history in 1907 when one of his motorcycles reached a top speed on 136.4 MPH at Ormond Beach in Florida.
• Using his advancements on bicycle technology, Curtiss provided his Hercules engine for Thomas Baldwin’s dirigible. This resulted in the first ever controlled flight, happening in 1908 in Oakland, California.

Glenn Curtiss Aims for the Skies

• With his invention of the “June Bug” experimental airplane, Curtiss won the Scientific American trophy on July 4, 1908. During the competition, he had the first ever officially recognized and public-witnessed flight.
• Glenn Curtiss piloted his first long-distance flight from Albany to New York City.
• He established the Curtiss School of Aviation in 1910 with two locations: in Hammondsport and San Diego. It expanded to ten locations by 1916. By the time World War I began, the Curtiss School was training pilots for the United States military.

The More Unique Inventions

• Throughout his life, Curtiss tinkered and toyed with countless ideas. He tried his hand at inventing all sorts of contraptions. Another of his ideas included a variety of glider boats, with a hope of conquering both waker and sky in one machine. Needless to say, it wasn’t his most successful undertaking.
• Curtiss eventually moved to Miami and was monumental in establishing multiple cities there. He also ventured into newer technologies, like the Curtiss Aerocar. It was one of the earliest camping trailers.

The most interesting things to learn about at the Curtiss Museum

• Historic bicycles had white tires. Although they looked pretty fashionable, they didn’t last. Modern tires are black due to carbon injections. It’s the carbon that gives the rubber its endurance.
• In 1912 the government was invited to Keuka Lake to witness the dropping of “bombs” on boats scattered across the lake. Out of the 17 boats targeted, 15 were hit. Therefore proving the success of Curtiss airplanes.
• The first mass-produced planes were the “Jenny” Curtiss planes. Because they were made so cheaply, movie producers purchased the planes to be used as collateral for movie explosions. Most often the planes would crash into barns – which is where the term “barnstorming” comes from.
• There was an ongoing rivalry between Glenn Curtiss and the Wright Brothers, centered around who had the first flights and who had the right to certain patents. Eventually, the two legaccies joined forces as the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.
• Learn about the “Curtiss Cadettes“, a group of under-recognized women who were crucial to the military efforts in World War II. Between 1943 and 1945, 918 women were selected to take part in a special fully-funded aerodynamics program. The students learned 2.5 years of aerospace engineering in just 10 months at 7 different universities. Cornell, Iowa State, Penn State, Purdue, Rensselear, University of Minnesota, and University of Texas. 766 Cadettes graduated from the rigorous program and went on to hold critical positions in Curtiss-Wright production facilities.

If you love board games – and history – as much as I do, play the game First in Flight. It features so many of the people and objects on display at the Glenn Curtiss Museum!

Restoration of a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

One of the absolute coolest parts of the Glenn Curtiss Museum is undoubtedly taking a look at the restoration of a P-40 Warhawk. Using a collection of historic photos and military records, the team is meticulously and accurately restoring this plane to its original beauty. And although it’s not common to put the pilot’s name on a P-40, they’ve made an exception. This particular plane bears the name “E. Goodyear” at the cockpit. Because records were able to trace who the pilot was when this plane ultimately crashed.

Visiting the Glenn Curtiss Museum

The Glenn Curtiss Museum is open 360 days per year for all history buffs, aviation aficionados, and curious-minded folks to explore.

Hours

From May through October, the museum is open from 9am til 5pm. From November through April, the hours are 10am til 4pm.

Admission Prices

Regular price admission is $13.50, which, honestly, is such a deal for the incredible history within the museum’s walls. Seniors are $12, children 7-17 and veterans are $10. Admission to the Glenn Curtiss Museum is FREE for active military members, children 6 and under, and museum members.

Other Things to Do in Hammondsport

While in the area, be sure to visit Pleasant Valley Wine Company, the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes. Then spend the night at the Black Sheep Inn & Spa, a vegan-friendly inn owned by two friendly British expats. There are also several craft breweries in Hammondsport serving some delicious brews to enjoy after a morning at the museum.