Frequently Asked Questions

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Find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Wilbur, Orville, and the first flight.

 

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  Why did the Wright brothers come to Kitty Hawk?

  When Wilbur and Orville were looking for a place to conduct their flying experiments, they had three criteria: wind, sand, and isolation, all of which could be found in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Check out this video to learn more.

  Duration:

  5 minutes, 9 seconds

 

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  Where did the first flights happen?

  Wilbur and Orville did two different types of experiments here at the park: gliding and powered flying. Their gliders took off from the Kill Devil Hills, the sand dunes in the area at the time, including Big Hill where the Wright Brothers Monument stands today. Their powered flights, the first flights, took off from the flat ground outside their camp. This spot is marked by the First Flight Boulder and Flight Line today.

  Duration:

  2 minutes, 3 seconds

 

How did they decide who would fly first?

Though Orville made the first successful flight on December 17, 1903, Wilbur had actually won the coin toss on December 14 for who would get to make the first attempt to fly. However, Wilbur's attempt to fly on the 14th was unsuccessful, so when they were ready to try again on December 17, it was Orville's turn.

 

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  Where are Wilbur and Orville buried?

  You won't find any graves at Wright Brothers National Memorial. Wilbur and Orville are buried along with other family members at Woodland Cemetery in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio.

  Duration:

  1 minute, 28 seconds

 

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  Can I visit with my pet?

  Pets are welcome at Wright Brothers National Memorial as long as they (and their owners) follow the principles of B.A.R.K. B=Bag your pet's waste. A=Always on leash. R=Respect Wildlife. K=Know where you can go.

  Duration:

  1 minute, 54 seconds

 

How tall is the hill where the monument stands?

Big Kill Devil Hill is a 90-foot stabilized sand dune. It was the site of many of Wilbur and Orville's gliding experiments from 1900 to 1902.

 

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  Did they fly in Kitty Hawk or Kill Devil Hills?

  Both actually! Although you'll find Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville would have referred to the location of their experiments as Kitty Hawk, the closest town in 1903. Kill Devil Hills didn't become an incorporated town until fifty years after the first flight.

  Duration:

  1 minute, 21 seconds