On December 17, 1903, at 10:35 in the morning, a 27 year old bicycle mechanic from Dayton Ohio named Orville Wright climbed into a wood and muslin biplane on a North Carolina barrier island and flew it for 12 seconds. The flight covered 120 feet. His brother Wilbur ran alongside. Four flights were made that day. The longest, flown by Wilbur in the afternoon, lasted 59 seconds and covered 852 feet.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills marks the exact spot where each of those flights began and ended. The first flight granite boulder sits at the takeoff point. Stone markers show where each flight ended. The monument on Kill Devil Hill, a 60 foot granite pylon visible from miles away, looks out over the site from the hill the brothers used as their testing ground for gliders before the powered machine was ready. It is a genuinely moving place to stand.
The First Flight Story
The Wright brothers arrived on the Outer Banks for the first time in 1900, drawn by the reliable winds, soft sandy landing surfaces, and relative isolation of the area. They chose Kitty Hawk initially, but shifted their operations to Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south, because of the large sand dunes that were useful for glider testing.
Between 1900 and 1902 the brothers made hundreds of glider flights from Big Kill Devil Hill, solving the problems of lift, drag, and control that had defeated every previous attempt at flight. The powered machine they brought in 1903, which they called Flyer, was built in their Dayton bicycle shop and shipped to the OBX in crates. After a failed attempt on December 14 due to a stall on takeoff, four successful powered flights were made on the morning of December 17 in a cold wind gusting to 27 miles per hour.
After the fourth flight, a gust of wind flipped the aircraft and damaged it beyond repair. The brothers sent a telegram to their father that afternoon. It read: "Success four flights Thursday morning all against twenty one mile wind started from Level with engine power alone average speed through air thirty one miles longest 57 seconds inform Press home Christmas."
What To See at the Memorial
The First Flight Granite Boulder marks the exact point where the Flyer lifted off on December 17, 1903. The four stone markers nearby show where each of the four flights ended. Standing at the boulder and looking at the distance markers gives a very clear sense of how modest those first flights actually were in terms of distance, and how world changing they were in terms of consequence.
The visitor center contains a full scale replica of the 1903 Flyer and exhibits on the Wright brothers' background, the four years of experiments at Kill Devil Hills, and the technical problems they solved on the way to powered flight. The exhibits are well designed and genuinely engaging for adults and children both.
Kill Devil Hill itself is a 90 foot natural sand dune that the brothers used for glider tests. The 60 foot granite monument on the summit is accessible by a short walk up a paved path. From the top you can see the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Roanoke Sound to the west. The inscriptions on the monument read: "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."
The reconstructed camp buildings near the launch site show reproductions of the brothers' wooden workshop and living quarters from 1903. The originals were destroyed or damaged by storms; these reconstructions are based on photographs and the brothers' own detailed journals.
Tickets and Hours
The memorial is managed by the National Park Service and is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, with the exception of December 25. Admission is $10 per person for visitors 16 and older. The NPS America the Beautiful annual pass and other NPS fee passes are accepted. Children 15 and under are free.
Parking is free and the lot is large enough to handle peak season crowds without much wait. The visitor center is air conditioned and well maintained. The outdoor portions of the site are fully accessible. Plan for 1.5 to 2 hours to see everything comfortably.
December 17 First Flight Anniversary
The anniversary of the first flight on December 17 is commemorated each year at the memorial with a ceremony, reenactors, and special programming. The National Park Service and local aviation organizations host the event and attendance can be significant in years ending in 0 or 5. If you are visiting in mid December, it is worth checking the NPS schedule.
Where To Eat Near the Memorial
The memorial is on the Bypass (US 158) in Kill Devil Hills, which is one of the main commercial corridors on the OBX. Options within a short drive include Good Life Cafe for breakfast and lunch, Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar for seafood, and Longboards Grill for a casual dinner with local seafood and a full bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the Wright Brothers National Memorial?
At 1000 N Croatan Highway (US 158) in Kill Devil Hills NC, about halfway between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. It is on the inland side of the road, clearly visible from the Bypass.
How long does it take to visit the Wright Brothers Memorial?
About 1.5 to 2 hours to see everything: the visitor center with the Flyer replica, the first flight site with the granite markers, the walk up Kill Devil Hill to the monument, and the reconstructed camp buildings.
Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
No advance reservation is required. You pay at the entrance gate. The America the Beautiful annual pass covers admission for pass holders.
Is the Wright Brothers Memorial good for kids?
Yes. The replica airplane, the outdoor flight path markers, and the climbable hill make it engaging for children. The exhibits in the visitor center are well designed for mixed ages.
Is Kill Devil Hills or Kitty Hawk the site of the first flight?
Kill Devil Hills. The Wright brothers used Kitty Hawk as their base when they first arrived in 1900, but the actual flight tests and the first powered flights in 1903 all took place at the Kill Devil Hills dunes, about four miles south of the Kitty Hawk post office.