Wright Brothers National Memorial
Time Needed: half-day
Experience Type: American icon, historic landmark
Wright Brothers National Memorial commemorates Wilbur and Orville Wright’s groundbreaking 1903 flight. Tour exhibits, explore historic grounds, and admire monuments that honor and celebrate the moment aviation began and forever reshaped travel and exploration.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- See the 60-Foot Granite Monument – Climb Big Kill Devil Hill for panoramic views and to admire the tribute to the Wright Brothers’ first successful powered flight.
- Explore the Visitor Center and Museum – Discover interactive exhibits on the Wrights’ experiments, then marvel at a full-size reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer in the Flight Room.
- See the First Flight Boulder and Flight Line– Stand where history lifted off. Granite markers trace the Wrights’ four flights, including the longest, covering 852 feet in 59 seconds.
- View the 1903 Commemorative Sculpture – Admire a bronze-and-steel artwork reenacting the Wright brothers’ historic first flight, then explore reconstructed living quarters and a hangar.
- Attend a Wind and Sand Program – Join a seasonal ranger-led talk to explore the Wrights’ journey from bicycle makers to aviation pioneers, retracing the historic first flights.
Itinerary Idea: Explore the Carolina Dunes with a self-guided driving audio tour tracing the Wright Brothers’ journey from bike mechanics to aviation pioneers. Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial, then continue north to Corolla, home to the region’s famed wild ponies.
Photo Credit: Matt Walter/Flickr