The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, preserves the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the world’s first powered, controlled, sustained airplane flight on December 17, 1903. The memorial is administered by the National Park Service and shares its grounds with First Flight Airport (KFFA) — making it the only place in the world where pilots can land at the site of the first flight.
What You Can See
The memorial grounds include a Visitor Center with a full-scale reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer, the original 1902 glider, exhibits on the brothers’ work, and a flight room with a replica of their 1903 camp. Outside, marker stones show the takeoff point and the landing points of each of the four flights made that day — 120 feet, 175 feet, 200 feet, and 852 feet. The 60-foot granite Wright Brothers Monument stands atop Kill Devil Hill, the dune from which the brothers launched their gliders.
Visiting Information
- Address: 1401 National Park Drive, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
- Hours: Generally 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily (verify with NPS for current hours)
- Entry Fee: Per-person fee, valid for 7 days; America the Beautiful passes accepted
- Best Time to Visit: December 17 anniversary events; off-season for fewer crowds
For Pilots: Fly-In Access
First Flight Airport is located on the southern edge of the memorial grounds. Pilots can park their aircraft at the airport tie-downs and walk to the Visitor Center in about 10 minutes. There is no other public-use airport in the United States that gives this kind of direct access to a major national historic site. See our First Flight Airport pilot information page for runway and frequency details.
The Story of December 17, 1903
On a cold, windy morning, Orville Wright lay prone on the lower wing of the Wright Flyer and released the restraining wire. The aircraft lifted off, flew for 12 seconds, and covered 120 feet of ground before settling back to the sand. Three more flights followed that morning — the longest, piloted by Wilbur, lasted 59 seconds and covered 852 feet. After the fourth flight, a gust of wind flipped the Flyer and damaged it beyond repair. It never flew again, but those four short hops changed the course of human history. Read more in our First Flight history page.
Why Kill Devil Hills?
The Wright Brothers wrote to the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1900 looking for a location with strong, steady winds and soft terrain. Kitty Hawk, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, was recommended. The brothers conducted glider experiments there in 1900, 1901, and 1902 before returning in 1903 with their powered aircraft. Kill Devil Hill — the actual launch site — is a few miles south of Kitty Hawk village.