Wright Brothers National Memorial
The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills marks the spot where the first airplane flight ever happened. A tall stone monument sits on a grassy hill where two brothers changed the world.
In 1903 Orville and Wilbur Wright flew their small flying machine here for the very first time. Families love walking the exact path of that first flight and seeing a full-size copy of the famous plane.
The first flight
The very first flight lasted only 12 seconds and traveled about 120 feet, shorter than the wingspan of a modern jet. Stone markers show where the plane lifted off and landed.
Why here
The brothers chose this spot for its steady ocean winds and soft sand for gentle landings. The tall grassy dune nearby is where they tested their early gliders.
Visitor center
The museum shows life-size copies of the glider and the powered flyer, plus tools the brothers used. Rangers tell exciting stories about how the two bicycle makers learned to fly.