As someone who has lived in Ohio and North Carolina, the Wright Brothers have always been a part of my life. So, while we were in the Outer Banks, we had to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Wilbur and Orville saw Kitty Hawk, North Carolina as the perfect place to bring their dream of flight to life.
Area and History
Though the memorial is in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville would have referred to the location as Kitty Hawk, the closest town in 1903. Sand and wind made it the perfect place for their experiments. Wind helped with lift. Sand offered a soft landing.
Two different types of experiments were conducted here – gliding and powered flight. Gliders took off from Kill Devil Hills, the sand dunes in the area at the time. Powered flights (the first flights) took off from the flat ground next to the camp.
After four years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flight on December 17, 1903. Wilbur won the coin toss to make the first flight attempt on December 14 but was unsuccessful. So, Orville conducted the first successful flight – it lasted 12 seconds and flew 120 feet.
Wright Brother National Memorial
The memorial includes a visitor center, one-way loop drive, monument, statues, flight lines, and camp replicas. Parking areas around the loop allow visitors to stop and enjoy these attractions.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
2023 Price: Free due to my Annual Pass (Fee would have been $10 per person)
Wright Brothers Monument
Our fight stop on the loop drive was the key feature of the memorial. Big Kill Devil Hill was a massive sand dune in the early 1900s. Now the Wright Brothers Monument stands atop the 90-foot stabilized sand dune.
Spiral sidewalks bring visitors up to the colossal 60-foot structure. The paths are paved but not universally accessible due to the steep incline.
All along the base of the Art Deco tower is the phrase “In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright conceived by genius achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith.”
I love that the sides look like wings!
December 17, 1903 Sculpture
Next, we stopped at the December 17, 1903 sculpture. This sculpture depicts the first flight, honoring Orville and Wilbur Wright and the citizens of North Carolina who assisted them.
It has Orville (piloting), Wilbur (running alongside), the plane, a photographer, and several cheering onlookers.
From the right angle, you can see the monument between the wings.
Camp Buildings and Flight Line
After the loop, we parked at the visitor center to see the remaining exhibits. First are two reconstructed camp buildings, a workshop/living quarters and hanger. Peak inside to see how the brothers lived and worked.
First Flight Boulder and the flight line mark the first controlled, sustained, powered flights. The granite boulder indicates the liftoff point. Four flight markers show the landing points at 120 feet, 175 feet, 200 feet, and finally 852 feet.
I highly recommend this memorial for any history or flight enthusiasts. Visitors can make a quick visit or spend the entire day.