"Achieved through dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith" Wilbur and Orville Wright accomplished what no one else had done before! I'm so grateful representatives like Lindsay Warren had the foresight to commemorate such a remarkable event in our nation's history. Touring the memorial was a fun and educational way to spend the afternoon.
Music featured in this video: "Encomium" by Evan Schaeffer, "Wright, Tam O'Shanter's Ride" by Illinois Brass Band, and "Follow Me Home" by Arulo
Visiting the Park
The Wright Brothers Memorial is overseen and maintained by the National Park Service. Admission is $10 per person (16 and older.) Children 15 and under may enter for free. Dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed. At the entrance gate, visitors receive a detailed brochure about the history of flight and the Wright's journey in overcoming its challenges. On site are restrooms, a visitor center/museum, and a self-guided walking tour. The walk from the parking lot to the memorial on Big Kill Devil hill is just over half a mile (one way). The main points of interest at this site include:
recreations of Wilbur and Orville's living quarters/workshop
four stone markers from their successful flights
the 60 ft heigh granite memorial
a bronze and steel commemorative sculpture of the first flight
For more information check out the following resources:
While visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial probably won't take up more than an hour and a half of your afternoon, it's a historic site certainly worth visiting.
Learn More
To learn more about the Wright Brothers and their flyer design check out the following resources:
If you're interested in the history of the monument itself and you've got a whole lot of extra time on your hands check out this PDF copy of: "Wright Brothers National Memorial: An Administrative History" by Andrew M. Hughes
Lastly, I recommend giving this video from the National Park Service a watch. It's definitely cheesy and intended for kids, but if you can get passed that I think you'll find it very informative over all.