Learn all about Harriet Quimby!
America's first female pilot has an amazing story to tell! Harriet Quimby led a life of adventure as she broke the mold for women of her time by pursuing a career as an actress, a journalist, and finally a pilot at the dawn of aviation history.
She was brave, intelligent, beautiful, and an inspiration to all the female pilots from Amelia Earhart to Sally Ride who have followed in her footprints (or contrails shall we say)!
What an amazing woman!
To help you learn more about Harriet Quimby's life and accomplishments, we've compiled a list of books, museums, and educational ideas to help you.
Whether you're a student doing research, a school teacher looking for lesson plan ideas, or a homeschooling mom doing the same, we're here to help!
In addition to this blog post, we offer free printables to help you learn about Harriet Quimby and we would LOVE to mail you our Heritage Letter from Harriet Quimby. With the letter you'll receive a photo of Harriet, a timeline of her life, and a copy of a 1912 advertisement for Vin Fiz, a sparkling grape juice featuring Harriet Quimby in her signature purple flying suit!
Our Harriet Quimby Letter is the perfect addition to your homeschool history lessons for women's history month, aviation, and journalism!
You can view the lesson plans below and snatch up a copy of the free lesson plans along with our our activities about Harriet in our free downloads here!
If you’d like a fun introduction to Harriet Quimby's life that will be engaging and authentic, you can grab our Heritage Letter anytime! It’s full of direct quotes, facts about her life and so much more! You can get the snail mail letter here or the instant digital download version here.
Places to Visit
National Aviation Hall of Fame
Find Harriet Quimby's photo in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio!
International Women's Air and Space Museum
Learn about amazing women throughout the history of air and space at the International Women's Air And Space Museum in Cleveland, Ohio
Air & Space Museums
Take a field trip to visit a local air and space museum. You may not find any mention of Harriet Quimby there, but you may spot pieces of her legacy in photographs and exhibits of other female aviators! Harriet sought to inspire other women to fly and her bravery paved the way for all who followed her.
by Marissa Moss
Read the delightful tale of Harriet's flight across the English Channel!
A Dover History Coloring Book
44 carefully researched illustrations fill this coloring book just waiting for your young artist to learn about aviators including Harriet Quimby, Bessie Coleman, Jackie Cochran, Sally Ride, and many, many more!
by Suzanne George Whitaker
Introduce children to Harriet Quimby with this biography filled with lovely watercolors and tales of the daring first female pilot in American.
One Week with Harriet Quimby
Spend a week in your homeschool history studies learning about Harriet Quimby's life with our one week of lesson plans!
You'll find all of the ideas below, plus a pamphlet for your student(s) to fill out about Harriet Quimby and 4 quotes of hers to decorate your learning space in our Harriet Quimby free downloads.
Day 1: Hello Harriet!
Read the Heritage Letter from Harriet Quimby.
Watch Harriet Quimby | Women Who Dare | Exhibit at OHTM
*As you go through the week, add in reading any books you have about Harriet Quimby and work on filling out the brochure about her.
Day 2: Harriet the Journalist
Read about Harriet’s first amazing adventure with speed in her own words in her article “A Woman’s Exciting Ride In A Racing Motor Car”
Writing Extension: Do you love to feel the wind in your hair when you speed down a hill on your bike or swing high up into the sky? Write about a time when you felt the rush of speed and how it made you feel.
Day 3: Harriet the Aviator
Learn more about Harriet with the National Aviation Hall of Fame
Day 4: Record Setter
Harriet was the first female pilot to fly across the English Channel. See if you can track her flight path from the shores of Dover, England to Calais, France.
Day 5: Legacy Leaver
Harriet Quimby was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004.
Learn about the National Aviation Hall of Fame
Create your own Hall of Fame including pictures of your favorite pilots!
Additional Research & Resources
Harriet’s August 24, 1911, Article “How I Won My Aviators License” for Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly
Wednesday's Women: America's First Lady of the Air Harriet Quimby
Racing Nellie Bly: Harriet Quimby
Town Village Historic Profile on Harriet Quimby
Wonderful Photos of Harriet Quimby from Vintage News Daily
Read Harriet’s Article “A Woman’s Exciting Ride In A Racing Motor Car,” from the Vanderbilt Cup Races
Related Heritage Letters
Other Aviators: Orville Wright
Brave Women: Annie Oakley & Susan B. Anthony
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