The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, in Hammondsport, NY bears the name of a pioneer aviator and Hammondsport’s favorite son!

The museum is located on State Route 54, one half mile south of the village of Hammondsport, New York. Dedicated to the memory of Glenn Hammond Curtiss, the museum contains a priceless collection relating to early aviation and regional history. The museum also features a 75-seat theater, large open area for special events and a museum store. In addition to seeing the museum displays and exhibits, visitors are welcome to visit the Restoration Shop, talk with volunteer craftsman and watch them work on historic aircraft.

The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is an educational and cultural institution that collects, preserves, and interprets transportation modes and regional history, and celebrates the innovations and accomplishments of Glenn Hammond Curtiss.

In the beginning for Glenn H. Curtiss, building and selling airplanes was not enough. He wanted people to understand the idea and beauty of flying his aircraft. Starting with the first sale of an airplane to the Aeronautical Society of New York in 1909, he agreed to teach two of its members, Charles Willard and Alexander Williams, how to fly.  

By 1916, people from all walks of life were attending the Curtis School in one of ten locations across the country! He first trained U.S. Navy pilots, helping to create a strong Air Wing of the military. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, many of the schools and instructors would become extensions of the military. These flying schools trained some of the finest aviators the world had ever seen. Afterwards, the Curtiss Flying Schools merged into the Curtiss Flying Service, continuing well up to the beginning of World War II.

Today, the Museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying planes, automobiles and bicycles either originals, restores or reproductions from the late 1800’s to the 1940’s.  https://glennhcurtissmuseum.org/exhibits-on-display/ The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is the perfect place to experience early history of all of this and more, covering WWI & WWII! Check out more information online - https://glennhcurtissmuseum.org/  

Museum Opening Hours: May 1 – October 31st, 9am to 5pm daily. November 1 –April 30, 10am to 4pm daily **We are closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day.