Wright Brothers |
Wright Brothers |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
Visiting The Grounds We suggest that you stop first at The Visitor Center, where the story of the Wright Brothers is told through exhibits and full scaled reproductions of the 1902 glider and the 1903 flying machine. For a schematic drawing of the Wright Brothers Flyer, click here.
A large granite boulder at the first flight area near the reconstructed 1903 camp buildings marks the spot where the first airplane left the ground. Numbered markers indicated the distance of each of the four flights made on December 17, 1903. One of the 1903 camp buildings duplicates the one used by the brothers as a hangar for the 1903 Flyer. The other is similar to the one used as a workshop and living quarters in 1903. It is furnished with items much like those the Wrights used when they were there. The Wright Memorial Shaft crowns Big Kill Devil Hill, a 90-foot dune of once-shifting sand that has been stabilized with grass. The 60-foot pylon, constructed of gray granite from Mount Airy, North Carolina, honors the Wright Brothers and marks the site of the hundreds of glider flights that preceded the first powered flight. First Flight Airstrip This 3,000-foot paved airstrip was added to the park in 1963 to accommodate small planes. Parking at the airstrip is limited tie down area is restricted to 24 consecutive hours or a total of 48 hours during any 30-day period. Pilots who wish to stay longer for other purposes may tie down at the Dare County Regional Airport, where gas and rental cars are available. No Air Tours are being offered from the First Flight Airstip at this time.. Please exercise common sense and caution. Help protect Big Kill Devil Hill by staying on the paths. There are sand spurs and prickly pear off the path that you will want to avoid. Remember that Big Kill Devil Hill is highly exposed to lightning during thunderstorms. Bicycles are permitted only on the established roads, not on paths, and skateboards are prohibited. |