fbpx

Taking Flight — The Glenn Curtiss & June Bug Legacy Memorial

Taking Flight: Honoring a Century of Vision

As Miami Springs celebrates 100 years, we honor the extraordinary spirit of our founder, Glenn Curtiss, aviation pioneer, inventor, and visionary city builder. The Glenn Curtiss & June Bug Legacy Memorial will stand as a permanent tribute to the innovation, courage, and imagination that gave our community wings. Created by Miami Springs’ own Natalie Plasencia, this Centennial landmark unites art, history, and heart—telling the story of how one man’s dream took flight and shaped a city that continues to soar. The Memorial will feature two extraordinary pieces:
  • The Glenn Curtiss Memorial — a life-sized bronze of Curtiss standing at 6’3” feet tall standing on a 3’2” x 3’2” base, surrounded by panels honoring his roles as an aviation pioneer, military innovator, motorcycle champion, and city builder.
  • The June Bug Legacy Memorial — a walk-through installation spanning 42’6” x 12’ x 6’ feet, modeled on Curtiss’s historic aircraft, inviting visitors to step inside a living timeline of his life and achievements.
Together, they form a Centennial tribute worthy of our founder’s legacy and our community’s next century.

Ways to Give: A Legacy That Takes Flight

Help bring this historic tribute to life. Our goal is $260,000, and every gift propels us closer to unveiling day.

Ways to Give: A Legacy That Takes Flight

LEVEL DESCRIPTION UNITS TOTAL
$2,500 — “Wing Rib”
Plaque of chosen name on Individual bronze ribs on the June Bug structure
44
$110,000
$5,000 — “Structural Rib”
Plaque of chosen name on support ribs within the June Bug structure
16
$80,000
$15,000 — “Aileron”
Cutout of chosen name on major June Bug structural points
4
$60,000
$25,000+ — “Main Statue Plaque”
Premier recognition of the chosen name on the main Glenn Curtiss monument base.
3
$75,000

All donors at $2,500 and above will receive public recognition, invitation to the ribbon cutting, and acknowledgment on the Centennial website.
Contributions over $100 will be featured by name on the Centennial website.
Contributions under $2,500 fuel the general construction of the monument. 
As a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN #65-0878612), 100% of your contribution will be used to benefit this project through The Curtiss Mansion.

Meet the Artist: Natalie Plasencia

A Cuban American sculptor raised in Hialeah and rooted in Miami Springs, Natalie Plasencia approaches sculpture as both craftsmanship and calling. Her works, seen across South Florida, combine spiritual depth, historical storytelling, and bold form.

With this Centennial commission, Natalie brings her artistry home, creating a work that honors the city’s past and inspires its future.

Join Us

This is our Centennial moment, a chance to celebrate Miami Springs’ first hundred years and build a legacy for the next hundred.

Give today. Be remembered tomorrow.

For more information, contact: Carmen Algeciras, 305-283-4790