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Wright Brothers National Memorial |
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| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location | Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, USA |
| Nearest city | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 428.44 acres (1.73 km²) |
| Established | March 2, 1927 |
| Visitors | 458,948 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, commemorates the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton, Ohio, based on information from the U.S. Weather Bureau about the area's steady winds. They also valued the privacy provided by this location, which in the early twentieth century was remote from major population centers.
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Exhibits and features
The Field and Hangar
The Wrights made four flights from level ground near the base of the hill on December 17, 1903, following three years of gliding experiments from atop this and other nearby sand dunes. It is possible to walk along the actual routes of the four flights, with small monuments marking their starts and finishes. Two wooden sheds, based on historic photographs, recreate the world's first airplane hangar and the brothers' living quarters.
Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is home to a museum featuring models and actual tools and machines used by the Wright brothers during their flight experiments. In one wing of the Visitor Center is a life-size replica of the Wright brothers' 1902 glider. Adorning the walls of the glider room are portraits and photographs of other flight pioneers throughout history.
Kill Devil Hill and the Memorial Tower
A 60-foot (18 m) granite monument, dedicated in 1932, is perched atop 90-foot-tall (27 m) Kill Devil Hill, commemorating the achievement of the Wright brothers. They conducted many of their glider tests on the massive shifting dune that was later stabilized to form Kill Devil Hill. Inscribed in capital letters along the base of the memorial tower is the phrase "In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright conceived by genius achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith." Atop the tower is a marine beacon, similar to one found in a lighthouse, that was installed to make the monument more "functional".[1]
Building the Memorial
The tower was designed by Rodgers and Poor, a New York architectural firm; the design was officially selected on February 14, 1930. Prior to the memorial's construction, the War Department selected Captain William H. Kindervater of the Quartermaster Corps to prepare the site for construction and to manage the area landscaping. To secure the sandy foundation, Captain Kindervater selected bermuda grass to be planted on Kill Devil Hill and the surrounding area. He also ordered a special fertilizer to be spread throughout the area to promote grass and shrubbery growth and decided to build a fence to prevent animal grazing. With a strong foundation in place, the Office of the Quartermaster selected Marine Captain John A. Gilman to preside over the construction project. Construction began in October 1931 and with a budget of $213,000, the memorial was completed in November 1932. In the end, 1,200 tons of granite, more than 2,000 tons of gravel, more than 800 tons of sand and almost 400 tons of cement were used to build the structure, along with numerous other materials.
Memorial Dedication
November 14, 1932 was selected as the dedication day; over 20,000 people were expected to attend. Yet, only about 1,000 actually came to the event, which was held on a stormy and windy day. Orville Wright was the main guest of honor at the ceremony, and aviator Ruth Nichols was given the privilege of removing the American flag that covered the word "GENIUS" and the plaque on the monument. President Herbert Hoover was unable to attend the ceremony [1]; however, a letter from the President was read prior to the dedication.
The hill offers great views of the surrounding area.
Centennial of Flight
There are ranger-conducted programs. Recently, a new expanded museum opened with artifacts, videos, and other exhibits. On December 17, 2003, the Centennial of Flight was celebrated at the Park. The ceremony was hosted by flight enthusiast John Travolta, and included appearances by President George W. Bush, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Chuck Yeager.
Administrative history
Authorized as Kill Devil Hill Monument on March 2, 1927, it was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service on August 10, 1933. Congress renamed it and designated it a national memorial on December 4, 1953. As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, the national memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The memorial's visitor center, designed by Ehrman Mitchell and Romaldo Giurgola, was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 3, 2001. The memorial is co-managed with two other Outer Banks parks, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Gallery
 Photo of the monument from the rear. |
 sign by the National Parking Service |
 whole site from the north |
 The first powered flight site from the east. The monument in the center was established in 1928. |
 launch rail |
 flight profile from the east |
 first landing spot |
 second landing spot |
 third landing spot |
 fourth landing spot |
See also
References
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
Notes
External links
- Official NPS website: Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center Historical background
- Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center National Historic Landmark information
- Wright Brothers National Memorial:Site of the First Controlled Powered Flight, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
- Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
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