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Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, NC

Photo: Kevin A Pierce, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFamily Favorite

Wright Brothers National Memorial

1000 North Croatan Highway · Kill Devil Hills, NC

Why you should go…

This is the spot where Wilbur and Orville Wright made four powered flights on December 17, 1903. The First Flight Boulder and markers along the flight line show where each flight took off and landed. A 60-foot granite monument, dedicated in 1932, stands on top of Kill Devil Hill. The visitor center displays a life-sized replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer, and you can also see reconstructed camp buildings and a full-sized sculpture of the first takeoff.

  • #aviation history
  • #national memorial
  • #outer banks
  • #first flight
  • #monument

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Wright Brothers National Memorial, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Jockey's Ridge State Park

    Free

    Climb the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast, fly a kite, try hang gliding or watch the sun set over Roanoke Sound.

    4.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Bodie Island Lighthouse

    Free

    See the black-and-white banded 1872 lighthouse over the marsh, and climb its 200-plus steps in season.

    15 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Currituck Beach Lighthouse

    Under $25

    Climb 220 steps inside an unpainted red brick lighthouse for views of Currituck Sound and the Atlantic.

    26 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    Free

    Walk miles of open Atlantic beach, visit three historic lighthouses and camp or fish along the Outer Banks barrier islands.

    50 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

    Free

    See the black-and-white spiral-striped brick lighthouse that was moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999.

    54 mi awayMore like this