For a stay in Hammondsport, you can explore several themes: wine and local history in the village, aviation history nearby, and seasonal time by the water. The FLX Wine Museum offers a direct look at the history of the Finger Lakes wine industry; museums, wineries and events add their own distinct perspectives.
Wine and Local History
The FLX Wine Museum complex, also called the Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum, includes a replica Cooper Shop, a Wine Museum and the Walter S. Taylor Art Gallery. Visitors can tour these areas. The Cooper Shop Building displays local memorabilia and winemaking equipment from the early days of the Finger Lakes wine industry. You can encounter both historic objects and winemaking itself among the topics presented there.
Another connection to local history is the Village of Hammondsport Historic District. It is officially listed as a historic district by New York State. Together, a museum visit and the historic district offer different perspectives on the village’s history: the museum areas and collection pieces take center stage in one, while the recognition of a historic district is the focus of the other.
Aviation and Museums Nearby
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is located half a mile south of the village of Hammondsport and features collections on early aviation and regional history. A replica of Curtiss’s 1914 America flying boat, with a wingspan of 72 feet, was completed by the museum’s restoration shop in early September 2007.
The Finger Lakes Boating Museum is located at 8231 Pleasant Valley Road, just outside the village of Hammondsport. Along with the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, it is another point of interest nearby; its location is clearly distinct from that of the wine museum in the village. When orienting yourself between the two museums, it helps to distinguish the museum south of the village from the one just outside it.
Wineries and Time by the Water
Wine is also part of the experience beyond the museum: against the backdrop of Hammondsport and Keuka Lake, visitors can taste, tour and explore award-winning wineries. Domaine LeSeurre Winery is in Hammondsport and is one of the wineries visitors can experience in this setting. Tastings and tours depend on each winery’s operations.
At Depot Park in Hammondsport, swimming with lifeguards is available during the summer months. This seasonal option takes place at a different time of year from the Seaplane Homecoming: the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum and volunteers have held the gathering every fall at Keuka Lake since 2003. It is also associated with Depot Park in Hammondsport. Specific event dates may vary.
Plan Your Visit
The Hammondsport Visitor Center is at 47 Shethar Street. It has an interactive Explore Steuben kiosk that visitors can use to plan their trip. Check local details about the visitor center before your visit.
For planning, seasonal and operational details are especially useful: swimming with lifeguards is a summer option; the Seaplane Homecoming takes place in the fall, and its dates may vary. Tastings and tours also depend on the operations of each winery. Check with the Town of Urbana in advance for the current lifeguard schedule, and confirm event dates and visitor offerings at the winery you are interested in.
Discover more destinations: Wayland, Corning, Hornell, Cohocton, Painted Post.
See the broader travel overview: Steuben.
