The Museum of Science in Boston awarded him a special gold medal for "leading children down the path to the wide wonderful world of the outdoors".

The American Museum of Natural History awarded him the John Burroughs Medal in 1956 for Song of the Sky.

In recognition of his work with more than 150,000 children, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut awarded him the Shining Star Award for his "Outstanding contribution to the education of young people."

In 2006 the Museum of Finnish Architecture awarded Curtis its Commemoration Medal of Foundation on the occasion of the Museum's 50th Anniversary.

In February 2007, the Museum of Television and Radio awarded him with its Visionary Award for Innovative Leadership in Media and Entertainment.

In 2005, the Museum of Broadcast Communications awarded WGN-TV's Studio 1 a plaque to commemorate the forty years of children's television broadcast from the studio.

Awarded 2nd Prize in Fit for a King juried exhibition displayed at the Gardiner Museum, Toronto in 1992.

In a promotional booklet published in 1939, NW wrote "For the second time in 12 years, the American Museum of Safety has awarded the Harriman Memorial Gold Medal to the Norfolk & Western Railway for the outstanding safety record during 1938 among class I railroads of the United States."