On my free day in New York I toured the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, which is not far from where the race was held.
Curtiss was an early pioneer of bicycle, motorcycle, and aircraft development. He was a champion racer of all of those types of vehicles. He was a successful inventor and businessman, yet had only an eighth grade education. Glenn Curtiss held world speed records on land and in the air.
I like this Curtiss quote: "What is the need of racing unless you think that you are going to win? And if you are beaten before you start, why take a chance?"
The docent stated his opinion that Curtiss' contributions to the advancement of aviation were more important than those of Orville and Wilbur Wright, though the Wrights were simply better marketers. I believe that Curtiss did contribute more, but also that the Wright Brothers held up development through litigation to enforce their broad patents.
The museum building is modestly sized but it is packed with neat stuff. Through displays of vehicles and equipment and other artifacts, plus a 60-minute documentary film, the museum shares Curtiss' life story from birth to death. The stories of his contemporaries are also included, such as his Aerial Experiment Association partner Alexander Graham Bell, his litigious rivals the Wright brothers, and aviation pioneers Samuel Langley and Octave Chanute, among others. There are also a bunch of random cars and motorcycles. The connection to Curtiss was not explained, but they were all fun to see.
You are allowed to walk through functioning workshops where a WWII P40 fighter plane and other aircraft are being restored. There are very few barriers to keep you away from the exhibits. Detailed explanatory signage fronts most of the exhibits, and various art and decorations are attractive and thoughtfully prepared.
Upon leaving the museum I drove a short distance to the local cemetery to visit the graves of Curtiss, his wife, and their two sons.
On Jan. 24, 1907, Glenn Curtiss rode a motorcycle to set the overall world land speed record of 136.27 mph at Ormond Beach, Florida. This bike sports a 4,410 cc V8 aircraft engine of his own design and manufacture. The overall record held until 1911. A motorcycle did not go faster until 1930. In 1907 this was cutting edge stuff. Check out the big exposed pinion gear spinning the rear hub.
Unrestored 1908 Curtiss motorcycle.
On July 4, 1908, Glenn Curtiss flew the June Bug 5,080 feet and won the Scientific American Trophy along with a $2,500 prize. This was considered to be the first pre-announced public flight of a heavier-than-air-craft in America. The Wright brothers had not yet publicly displayed their aircraft. This is a working replica of the June Bug. The figures depict Lt. Thomas Selfridge and Glenn Curtiss. Lt. Selfridge was the first recorded American aviation fatality. He perished in the September, 1908 crash of a Wright Flyer piloted by Orville Wright. This was also the first aviation death of an active duty U.S. service member.
Curtiss P40 bring restored.
Glenn H. Curtiss died at age 52 of complications following an appendectomy. This occurred some time after his wife had convinced him to give up racing because it was so dangerous. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by an act of Congress.
Curtiss was an early pioneer of bicycle, motorcycle, and aircraft development. He was a champion racer of all of those types of vehicles. He was a successful inventor and businessman, yet had only an eighth grade education. Glenn Curtiss held world speed records on land and in the air.
I like this Curtiss quote: "What is the need of racing unless you think that you are going to win? And if you are beaten before you start, why take a chance?"
The docent stated his opinion that Curtiss' contributions to the advancement of aviation were more important than those of Orville and Wilbur Wright, though the Wrights were simply better marketers. I believe that Curtiss did contribute more, but also that the Wright Brothers held up development through litigation to enforce their broad patents.
The museum building is modestly sized but it is packed with neat stuff. Through displays of vehicles and equipment and other artifacts, plus a 60-minute documentary film, the museum shares Curtiss' life story from birth to death. The stories of his contemporaries are also included, such as his Aerial Experiment Association partner Alexander Graham Bell, his litigious rivals the Wright brothers, and aviation pioneers Samuel Langley and Octave Chanute, among others. There are also a bunch of random cars and motorcycles. The connection to Curtiss was not explained, but they were all fun to see.
You are allowed to walk through functioning workshops where a WWII P40 fighter plane and other aircraft are being restored. There are very few barriers to keep you away from the exhibits. Detailed explanatory signage fronts most of the exhibits, and various art and decorations are attractive and thoughtfully prepared.
Upon leaving the museum I drove a short distance to the local cemetery to visit the graves of Curtiss, his wife, and their two sons.
On Jan. 24, 1907, Glenn Curtiss rode a motorcycle to set the overall world land speed record of 136.27 mph at Ormond Beach, Florida. This bike sports a 4,410 cc V8 aircraft engine of his own design and manufacture. The overall record held until 1911. A motorcycle did not go faster until 1930. In 1907 this was cutting edge stuff. Check out the big exposed pinion gear spinning the rear hub.
Unrestored 1908 Curtiss motorcycle.
On July 4, 1908, Glenn Curtiss flew the June Bug 5,080 feet and won the Scientific American Trophy along with a $2,500 prize. This was considered to be the first pre-announced public flight of a heavier-than-air-craft in America. The Wright brothers had not yet publicly displayed their aircraft. This is a working replica of the June Bug. The figures depict Lt. Thomas Selfridge and Glenn Curtiss. Lt. Selfridge was the first recorded American aviation fatality. He perished in the September, 1908 crash of a Wright Flyer piloted by Orville Wright. This was also the first aviation death of an active duty U.S. service member.
Curtiss P40 bring restored.
Glenn H. Curtiss died at age 52 of complications following an appendectomy. This occurred some time after his wife had convinced him to give up racing because it was so dangerous. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by an act of Congress.