Hammondsport in Steuben County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
1906 - 1916 Floating and Flying
The Glenn H. Curtiss Heritage Trail
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel
1. 1906 - 1916 Marker
Some of America's earliest aircraft took to the air over Kingsley Flats
In 1904 "Captain T.S. Baldwin from California purchased a Curtiss motorcycle engine to power his experimental dirigible airship. Two years later, Baldwin moved his entire research and production operations to Hammondsport in order to work with Curtiss. Baldwin and Curtiss used a hangar on this site, then known as Kingsley Flats. Here, in June, 1907, Glenn Curtiss flew for the first time piloting a Baldwin dirigible.
By 1909 Curtiss was using Kingsley Flats for test flights of the new airplanes he was designing and building. In 1910 he established the Curtiss Flying School here, and helped trained some of the nation's first generation pilots, including Blanche Stewart Scott, the first American woman to make a solo flight. This field also served as headquarters for the Curtiss Exhibition Company, a team of pilots who gave demonstrations and performed aerial stunts at fairs and air shows around the country.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Entertainment. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1907.
Location. 42° 24.214′ N, 77° 13.339′ W. Marker is in Hammondsport, New York, in Steuben County. It can be reached from Main Street (New York State
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, and in the Southern Tier. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vertical Flight Heritage Site (here, next to this marker); Town of Urbana Civil War Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Into the World of Aviation (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1911 - 1916 Wings Over the Water (approx. 0.4 miles away); Glenn Hammond Curtiss (approx. 0.4 miles away); Pulteney Square (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1900 - 1904 Two Wheels on the Ground (approx. 0.4 miles away); Champlin House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hammondsport.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Heritage Trail Marks Key Sites in Life of Glenn H. Curtiss. General Aviation News website entry (Submitted on July 14, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel
2. 1906 - 1916 Marker
Lower Left photo
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel
3. 1906 - 1916 Marker
Top Right photo
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel
4. 1906 - 1916 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 497 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 14, 2019, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
