Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty
Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation,
they achieved the first successful airplane flights on December 17, 1903. With
courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and
application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world
forever.

Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights on December 17, 1903.

With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever.

Sunset at the Wright Brothers National Memorial

WRBR Sunset

Visitors enjoy celebrating aviation where modern aviation was born.

National Aviation Day

Visitors climb Big Kill Devil Hill to visit the Wright Brothers Monument.

Journey to the Top

Copper busts of Wilbur and Orville Wright stand atop Big Kill Devil Hill.

Busts and Moon

Visitors explore the landing spots of the Wright brothers' first flights.

Walking Along History

This boulder marks the spot where the Wright brothers first flew in their 1903 flyer.

First Flight Boulder

Black-and-white image of the Wright Brothers Monument

Wright Brothers Monument

Orville takes to the air in the flyer for the first time on December 17, 1903.

First Flight

Rainbows over Monument

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Amongst the shallow blue waters of the Outer Banks lies Fort Raleigh on
Roanoke Island. Shaped by constant winds of change, Fort Raleigh has become a
focal point of American history. From the first Algonquian-speaking people to
the first English colonies, from formerly enslaved people starting anew to an
inventor testing new radio technology, this island continues to be a place to
forge new paths.

Amongst the shallow blue waters of the Outer Banks lies Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island. Shaped by constant winds of change, Fort Raleigh has become a focal point of American history. From the first Algonquian-speaking people to the first English colonies, from formerly enslaved people starting anew to an inventor testing new radio technology, this island continues to be a place to forge new paths.

Part of the ditch and wall of the earthwork

Reconstructed Earthwork

Shards unearthed here provide clues to the English expedition of 1585

Crucible Artifact

Venture through a maritime forest

Thomas Hariot Trail

Home of The Lost Colony drama performed every summer

Waterside Theatre

Commemorating the Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony

First Light of Freedom

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Albemarle Peninsula
in eastern North Carolina. The refuge was established in 1984 to protect the
rare pocosin wetlands and their associated wildlife. Pocosin wetlands grow on
thick layers of peat and have stunted, shrubby vegetation. In addition to
pocosins, the refuge also protects swamp forest and is fringed with marsh. The
vast protected area supports large populations of black bear, wintering
waterfowl, river otter, and other wildlife species. In addition, the refuge is
one of the only places in the world where you may see endangered red wolves in
the wild.

<p>Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Albemarle Peninsula in eastern North Carolina. The refuge was established in 1984 to protect the rare pocosin wetlands and their associated wildlife. Pocosin wetlands grow on thick layers of peat and have stunted, shrubby vegetation. In addition to pocosins, the refuge also protects swamp forest and is fringed with marsh. The vast protected area supports large populations of black bear, wintering waterfowl, river otter, and other wildlife species. In addition, the refuge is one of the only places in the world where you may see endangered red wolves in the wild.  </p><p> </p>

Wright Brothers National Memorial

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Nearby Parks

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge