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Published: February 18th 2022
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial atop Kill Devil Hill. National Register of Historic Places 66000071. DSC_0283p1The Wright Brothers National Memorial commemorates the places where Wilbur and Orville Wright conducted their gliding and flying experiments from 1900 to 1903, culminating on the first powered flight on December 17, 1903. It's located in Kill Devil Hills, not far from Nags Head.
There was a long line of cars waiting to enter the park. I thought the entrance fee of $10 per person (not per car) was a lot in order to see this important historical site. Fortunately, we had our National Parks Senior Pass.
Wright Brothers National Memorial itself is atop Kill Devil Hill. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton, Ohio, to conduct glider and airfoil experiments. They selected the location based on information from the US Weather Bureau about the area's steady winds. The area was remote and enabled them to experiment relatively undisturbed and land on sandy soil. Experimental gliders were flown off of the hill testing lift and different wing designs. A local teenager was sometimes their glider pilot. (I imagine he thought it an adventure!) Exhibits in the visitor center show how the Wright Bothers methodically developed their airplane. They were self-taught engineers, encouraged by their
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial. National Register of Historic Places 66000071.
DSC_0291p1 mother. They kept up with the aeronautical experiments other inventors were performing and wrote and delivered papers themselves. Their success revolved around their achievements in wing design to provide lift, wing warping to provide control, an aluminum engine and a pull propeller. A fell-size replica of the Flyer of 1903 is displayed in the Visitor Center.
A number of displays are out in the field. The First Flight Marker was installed in 1928 to mark the 25th anniversary of the first flight. Four stone landing markers indicate the distance achieved by the four flights of December 17, 1903. (120 ft./37 m. , 175 ft./53 m., 200 ft./61 m and the longest at 852 ft./260 m achieved in 59 second of powered flight.) Next to the flight line are reconstructed Wright Brothers 1903 hangar and camp buildings.
The 6-foot monument atop Kill Devil Hill itself was completed and dedicated in 1933. It is best reached by car from the Visitor Center parking lot. A circular roadway runs around it. Visitors may climb the hill, though we did not. To one side of the hill is the December 17, 1903 Sculpture. Dedicated in 2003, it is the newest addition to
First Flight Marker
First Flight Marker, placed in 1928. National Register of Historic Places 66000071.
DSC_0286p1 the memorial landscape. The sculptural group depicts the First Flight. Orville Wright pilots the Flyer while Wilbur cheers him on. Surfman John Daniels is seen taking the famous photo. Also present are Adam Etheridge, Johnny Moore and Willis Dough who assisted the Wright Brothers.
After a morning at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, we planned to visit the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island in the afternoon. We headed to Manteo and found lunch at the Carolina Bar-B-Que Company.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
The Wright Brothers
I grew up in Dayton Ohio the birthplace of the Wright Brothers. There is a bicycle shop museum that is cute if you are in that part of the world. If you enjoy books, David McCollough's The Wright Brothers is worth a read.