Glenn H. Curtiss Flies Into History, 1910
In 1910, Glenn Hammond Curtiss, the thirty-two-year-old aviator from Hammondsport, New York, accomplished what no one had done before: he flew from Albany to New York City in just two hours and thirty-two minutes of flying time, making only one stop along the way. The achievement earned him a $10,000 prize donated by the New York World, which he “promptly turned over to his wife.”
Preparing for the Historic Flight
According to the New York Tribune on May 30, 1910, Curtiss dressed for the flight in a sweater and wading boots. His 50-horsepower motor aeroplane would to fly Curtiss into aviation history.
The flight began at Van Rensselaer Island at 7:02 a.m. beneath “perfectly clear” skies. At nearly the same moment, a special five-car New York Central train carrying Mrs. Curtiss and her party departed Albany Station to follow the route south.
Those watching from the ground would never forget the sight. Curtiss “arose from the ground at a pulsating bound,” showing no hesitation and no sign of turning back. Many later compared the sound of the biplane to the “belligerent humming of an angry wasp.”
Outpacing the Train
Curtiss soon outpaced the locomotive, which was traveling “nearly a mile a minute.” After refueling just south of Poughkeepsie, he continued down the Hudson and passed West Point at 10:02 a.m. Officers and cadets looked up and cheered, so absorbed by the spectacle that the gunner reportedly forgot to fire the salute.
| Time | Location / Milestone |
|---|---|
| 7:03 a.m. | Departed Albany |
| 7:20 a.m. | Baltimore, NY |
| 7:26 a.m. | Newton Hook, NY |
| 7:30 a.m. | Stockport, NY |
| 7:35 a.m. | Hudson, NY |
| 7:41 a.m. | Catskill, NY |
| 7:46 a.m. | Germantown (Upper), NY |
| 7:48 a.m. | Germantown (Lower), NY |
| 7:58 a.m. | Barrytown, NY |
| 8:03 a.m. | Upper Kingston, NY |
| 8:06 a.m. | Rhinecliff, NY |
| 8:12 a.m. | Staatsburg, NY |
| 8:18 a.m. | Hyde Park, NY |
| 8:20 a.m. | Upper Poughkeepsie, NY |
| 8:24 a.m. | Poughkeepsie Bridge |
| 8:26 a.m. | Landed near Poughkeepsie |
| 9:26 a.m. | Departed landing site |
| 10:02 a.m. | Passed West Point |
| 10:14 a.m. | Peekskill, NY |
| 10:25 a.m. | Dobbs Ferry, NY |
| 10:30 a.m. | Spuyten Duyvil |
| 10:35 a.m. | Approach to Manhattan |
Landing in Manhattan
Describing his descent into Manhattan, Curtiss emphasized how difficult the landing had been. “I had to get very close to the ground before shutting off the power,” he explained. “If I were to shut off the power too high up, I might get a nasty drop and ruin the machine.” According to The Bulletin, landing safely required all of his energy and attention.
At the award ceremony following the flight, Curtiss spotted his wife, took her in his arms, and kissed her.
Learn more about Curtiss’s life and legacy at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum.
Sources
The Union and Advertiser, Rochester, NY, May 31, 1910
New York Tribune, May 30, 1910
The Bulletin, San Francisco, CA, May 30, 1910
Images
Leahy, Sharon. Image concept and direction. AI-assisted illustration generated using digital tools, 2026. Inspired by New York Tribune, May 30, 1910 and Union and Advertiser, Rochester, NY, May 31, 1910. Visual composition based on early aviation reportage of Glenn H. Curtiss’s Hudson River flight, including period newspaper engraving aesthetics and archival photographic references.