Wright Brothers National Memorial
add photosWind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights in 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.
The visitor center and Centennial Pavilion are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during summer months and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily September through May (closed Christmas).
12 Reviews for Wright Brothers National Memorial
3
00 families found this helpful
"Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills"
What a beautiful place to vacation with little ones. The beaches are clean and the area is family friendly. Bring the dogs too! ;) You can explore the beach on a sunny day or check out the huge YMCA on a rainy one. Kids love to romp through the trails and the dogs love 'em too! If you are looking for a quiet beach with lots of great seafood and ice cream with lots of dog and kid friendly events, Kill Devil Hills is the place for you!
Send a Message 
Send a Compliment
It's helpful
1 family found this helpful
"Excellent museum"
The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a great place to stop for your family! It's really neat being able to see where the first plane was flown - what a remarkable accomplishment that was in itself! There is tons of space for little ones to roam and also an indoor museum full of all things airplanes. Great stop to make!
0 families found this helpful
"Big hill, lots of walking"
Not great for little kids under 9 yrs old. Big hill. Cool view of the Outer Banks. Small museum at the bottom. Lots of good parking. Bring your own shade b/c there is none during summer. Located near the middle/northern section of the Outer Banks. Lots to do after like the outlets, mini golf, etc.
0 families found this helpful
"Great Taste of History"
The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a great place to visit and reminds us that nothing is impossible. Here you can see where the brothers flew the first plane. You can also see actual planes (or replicas, I can't exactly remember) that they built. There are markers that show the length of the flight and staff members are there to relay the historical facts. It's a great educational place, especially if you have kids interested in airplanes!
0 families found this helpful
"A fun and educational spot!"
We love the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial is fun and educational for the whole family! Learn the history of how the Wright Brothers were first in flight. See the exact spots where they first went airborne. If you have the extra money to spare, take a flight along the coast in one of the small Cessna planes...you won't be disappointed!!
1 family found this helpful
"Amazing"
It is an amazing trip that everyone should see at least once! Not far away is Kills Devil hill which is such a fun sand dune! It is huge! But the sights inside the memorial are wonderful and educational. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes and learning about the history of flight!
0 families found this helpful
"Nice Visit"
A group of our friends and family visited this museum on our summer vacation to OBX. We enjoyed the museum and exploring the flight path outside. This is a good museum for people of all ages and is reasonably priced. Definately worth checking out if you're in the area.
0 families found this helpful
"Very Educational"
The Wrigth brothers national memorial has 2 great museums and a great(very affordable)gift shop with lots of books.They have sculptures all around the property.Its a very long walk to the top of the monument but it is a great view and feeling to be standing where the Wright Brothers made history....A Must See......
0 families found this helpful
"Human Flight in Motion"
This is where human beings learned to fly. On December 17, 1903, two bicycle shop owners from Dayton, Ohio, named Orville and Wilbur Wright, took the first powered flying machine on a sustained flight. After several attempts that day they kept the machine aloft for fifty-nine seconds and traveled 852 feet.
Today the Wright Brothers National Memorial, on US 158 north of Kill Devil Hills, stands on the same spot as a tribute to their accomplishment. It includes a museum on the history of flight and a demonstration of the principles they used, which are still instrumental to modern flight. Reproductions of the brothers’ glider and the 1903 airplane are on display, and you will want to check out the reproduction of their camp workshop and hangar.
2 families found this helpful
"Fun for the whole family"
If you are heading to the Outer Banks, this place should definitely be on your list of places to visit. The original museum exhibits are mostly geared towards adults, however, there are plenty of items for children in the gift shop. Two additional exhibit buildings on the property have exhibits that are more kid-friendly as well as a second, smaller gift shop. The land around the memorial is a wonderful place for children to run and there are markers for the distances of the first flights. Watch out for sandspurs, though, as they are very common in the grassy areas. The outdoor portion is pet-friendly and there are paved pathways. Climbing to the actual memorial should be an easy walk for most people and gives you a fantastic view of the island (bring your camera and a windbreaker...the hill gets pretty windy).
1 family found this helpful
"History you cannot miss"
The Wright Brothers Memorial is something you cannot miss when visiting the Outer Banks. You enter into the museum and there is an area to sit around the plane and tell you all about the Wright Brothers. It was very intereting. Then you step outside to look around at the hangers to keep the planes, where they slept. You can take a walk up the hill where they took off from. And also they show markers of the distance each time they flew and landed. It was wonderful and my family and I had a great time.
0 families found this helpful
"First to Fly"
The Wright Brothers Memorial and Museum is a great place to learn about flying. The museum explains how the Wright Brothers began learning by owning a bicycle repair shop, then studied flight. The museum has displays, photos and a gift shop with kites. Outside is a display marking the distance of the first flights that the Wright brothers made.
What's Nearby? Hotels » Activities »
Find Hotels near Wright Brothers National Memorial »
Find Activities near Wright Brothers National Memorial »
Find Restaurants near Wright Brothers National Memorial »
Get the inside scoop from parents who have been there!
