Taking Flight: The Glenn Curtiss & June Bug Legacy Memorial

The Vision Behind the Glenn Curtiss & June Bug Legacy Memorial

Celebrating Our Centennial with Art, History, and Heart

As Miami Springs marks 100 years, we’re looking not just back at our history, but forward to the ways we can honor it for generations to come. At the heart of this vision is a remarkable artist whose work blends talent, spirit, and community pride: Natalie Plasencia Calvo.

Meet the Artist: Natalie Plasencia Calvo

A Cuban American sculptor raised in Hialeah, Natalie approaches art as a spiritual practice—each piece a reflection of prayer, purpose, and soul. With a background in fine arts and social work, she layers deep symbolism into sculptures crafted from wax, metal, and fabric, telling stories that inspire and advocate—especially for women, children, and underserved communities.

Natalie is not only an acclaimed South Florida artist but also a devoted member of our own Miami Springs community. A proud member of the Woman’s Club, she brings her creative energy to local causes alongside her husband, Juan Calvo—an architect and board member of the Historic Preservation Board. Together with their children, they embody what Miami Springs has cherished for a century: family, service, and vision.

Natalie’s impressive works include:

The Fisherman – Big Pine Key (8’2”)
Stella Maris – Bronze sculpture in Key West (13’)
Paya Memorial – Bronze Relief for the City of Hialeah

The Unveiling: A Vision That Moved the Room

On June 11, 2025, City Hall was filled with excitement as Natalie unveiled her concept for a memorial to honor our founder, Glenn Curtiss. Her presentation wasn’t just an art proposal—it was the sharing of a dream.

Standing with Juan, Natalie revealed a design described by Councilman Fabian Perez-Crespo as “a piece that looked like it belonged in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., but designed for the heart of our city.”

The proposed project is more than a monument—it’s an educational landmark, a celebration of identity, and a tribute to a man whose vision shaped the sky and the land beneath it.

Two Memorials, One Legacy

The Glenn Curtiss Memorial

This striking sculpture will portray Curtiss standing tall in his early 20th-century attire and signature aviation cap. His calm, determined posture will reflect the quiet strength that made him a pioneer in aviation, military innovation, motorcycle racing, and city building.

The base will feature four bronze relief panels, each telling a chapter of his life:

Aviation Pioneer
Military Innovator
City Builder (That’s us!)
Motorcycle Legend

This will be a timeless tribute to the man who helped put Miami Springs—and aviation—on the map.

The June Bug Legacy Memorial

Inspired by Curtiss’s historic June Bug airplane, this walk-through metal installation will be built to scale from the aircraft’s wings. Inside, visitors will follow a detailed timeline of Curtiss’s life and achievements—an interactive history lesson you can step right into.

It will also feature donor opportunities, allowing community members to leave their mark on this living tribute.

A Centennial Worthy Tribute

Glenn Curtiss wasn’t just our founder—he was a national figure, the “Father of Naval Aviation,” inventor of the first seaplanes, and leader of the team behind the first transatlantic flight in 1919. His innovations changed history, and his vision gave us a home.

With the Glenn Curtiss Memorial and June Bug Legacy Memorial, Natalie Plasencia Calvo’s artistry will give Miami Springs a fitting tribute—one that honors the past while inspiring the next hundred years.

Stay tuned—this is just the beginning. Our Centennial is taking flight.