Harriet Quimby

Harriet Quimby was born was born  in Arcadia Township, Michigan on May 11, 1875.

She went to school at Arcadia School District's School No. 1, the Gabel School. 

Shown here.

Sometime between 1887 and 1890 when Harriet was about 12-15 years old, the Quimby family moved to California.

The Quimby House

Located on Erdman road just

east of M-22, this is now a

registered Michigan Historic

Site. Courtesy of Barb Eldridge

and the Onekama Consolidated

Schools

On May 25, 2000 on the site of the Quimby homestead just outside of Arcadia, Michigan, a historic marker

was dedicated commemorating the life of Harriet Quimby, journalist, and pioneer aviatrix.

The Historic Site

Marker for Harriet

Quimby

This marker identifies the

Quimby residence on

Erdman road just east of

M-22, which is a

registered Michigan

Historic Site.

The Historic Site Marker Side B

This side of the marker

summarizes the rest of

Harriet Quimby's life.

While covering the 1910 Belmont Park Aviation Meet for Leslie's Illustrated Weekly, Harriet's interest in aviation soared. She convinced her paper to pay the $750 for flight school, and

began taking lessons in secret. She started flight instruction with Andre Haupert on May 1, 1911 at the Moisant Flight School in Hempstead Plains, Long Island. The secret did not last long, 

and she began writing art

On August 1, 1911, she finished the last

of three tests required by the International Aeronautical Federation and confirmed by Aero Club of America, and she received her pilot's license. She was the first woman in the US and second in

the world to do so. She joined the ranks of early pilots less than eight years after the Wright brothers' first flight.

On April 16, 1912, she became

the first woman to fly across the English Channel, a significant feat in the early history of aviation.

This achievement was over shadowed by the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

Harriet Quimby Died on July 1,

1912 at the age of 37.

She was flying a Blériot XI monoplane at the Harvard-Boston aviation meet.

While flying about 1000 feet she lost control and Harriet and her passenger fell out of the plane to their deaths.

Seat belts were not being used yet.

This iStamp was issued on April 27, 1991