Glenn H. Curtiss Museum – Hammandsport, NY

This transportation museum was far more impressive and extensive than I had ever imagined. Nor was I aware, previous to my visit, want the impact Glenn Curtiss had on modern aviation and transportation.

Who Was Glenn H. Curtiss?

Let me break this down as simply as possible without writing an essay.

Born in Hammondsport in 1878, Gleen Curtiss was an American icon, not only as an aviator and bicycle racer but as the founder of the U.S. Aircraft Industry and innovator in the motorcycle industry.

Glenn Curtiss started as an owner of a bicycle shop and a bicycle racer. This seems to naturally have propelled him into the budding motorcycle industry, where he began fitting motorcycles (which at the beginning looked more like bicycles than modern-day motorcycles) with a single-cylinder engine of his own design founding the Curtiss Motorcycle Company.

Curtiss’ interest in engines lead to his involvement with the fledgling airplane industry. His company was contracted to build planes for the U.S. Armed Services in the years prior to WWI. Glenn Curtiss was personally responsible for the advancement in transportation in the early 1900s.

Touring the Museum

I was not prepared for the vast collection of bicycles, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, and cars at this museum. Of course, many of these were made by Curtiss, but there are other examples of vehicles from the same period by different manufacturers.

Museum follows Glenn Curtiss’ life, and touring the museum is relatively straightforward. The flow is the simplest vehicles, bicycles, and watching the progression of Curtiss’ career in transportation, as the vehicles move through motorcycles and airplanes.

If you love seeing old vehicles and enjoy transportation history, this is the museum for you. Even if you aren’t a fan, this is still a fascinating museum.