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National Soaring Museum
The National Soaring Museum is located on Harris Hill at Elmira, New York, and is affiliated with The Soaring Society of America.
Following preliminary efforts by the local soaring club, the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation, the Museum was declared by the SSA Board of Directors in 1969 as the official SSA repository, Library and Archives.
Three of the Museum's eighteen Trustees are appointed by The SSA Board of Directors. At this time, the three are Hal M. Lattimore (through Dec. 1991) Theodore E. Sharp (through Dec. 1992) and E. Gene Hammond (through Dec. 1993). John C. Lincoln, II serves as President of the Museum's Board of Trustees. Charles D. Smith, Ph.D. is the Museum's Director.
The Museum is supported through earned income, foundation and government grants, gift shop revenues and a membership program. The Museum is an independent tax-exempt organization, located at Harris Hill, R.D. #3, Elmira, New York, 14903-9319. The telephone number is (607) 734-3128. The Museum is open 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. SSA members are admitted to the Museum at a discounted rate.
In 1978, the Museum moved into a new 16,000 square foot facility beside the glider field on Harris Hill. In 1989, a 12,000 square foot expansion was completed. The Museum's collections include over 60 gliders and sailplanes with about a dozen on display at any one time. Additional exhibits explore other aspects of soaring and related physical sciences and often feature important commemorative events. Many thousands of people each year take part in museum activities making it an effective instrument in the promotion of soaring as well as an important element in the preservation of the history of motorless flight.
The Soaring Hall of Fame is housed at the NSM. New inductees are honored at an annual ceremony and banquet.
The NSM sponsors the annual Ralph S. Barnaby lecture, held since 1973 at various locations around the country, given by distinguished soaring personalities as significant contributions to the history of motorless flight.
The Museum administers the Gross Sky Ghost Youth Achievement Scholarship Awards, established from a gift of Frank R. Gross to recognize achievements of young glider pilots.
The Film Library, built up through the efforts of Jon Carsey (SSA President 1951-1953) and Walter Hausler, is administered by the Museum and makes films available to requesting groups at a low cost.
In 1981, the NSM instituted the National Landmark Program in recognition of national historic soaring sites, persons, or events. On June 13, 1981, Corn Hill Beach, Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was dedicated as the first such landmark. This plaque commemorates a flight by Ralph S. Barnaby which established a national gliding duration record of 15 minutes and 6 seconds.
On July 10, 1982, the Second National Landmark was dedicated on the brow of Harris Hill, Elmira, New York, to honor 50 years of continuing support from the local community to soaring. The Landmark also recognized the late J. Thomas Rhodes and his family for their hospitality in establishing a soaring site at Harris Hill.
The citizens of Akron, Ohio, were honored June 29, 1985, with the dedication of the third National Soaring Museum National Landmark, for their support of significant advances to motorless flight from 1929 to 1936.
For more information, visit the National Soaring Museum web site at: http://www.soaringmuseum.org/
