They Taught the World to Fly!

Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights on December 17, 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.

A Moment that Changed the World… the Place that Made it Possible

Wilbur and Orville Wright made history here on December 17, 1903 by piloting four successful flights with their powered, heavier-than-air flying machine. Orville and Wilbur had been visiting the Outer Banks for three years before their successful flights. They spent those trips learning how to fly by conducting gliding experiments from the sand dunes a few miles south of the town of Kitty Hawk. These sons of Ohio traveled all the way to the Outer Banks because it had all the elements that they needed to safely and secretly learn how to fly: wind, sand, and isolation.

Wright Brothers National Memorial encompasses the spot where Wilbur and Orville made their world-changing first flights, the historic sand dune where they did most of their gliding, and the location they lived while they were experimenting in the Outer Banks.

Use the links below to explore the rest of Orville and Wilbur’s story, learn about how they unlocked the secrets of flight, or discover things you can do at the park with your friends, family, or school group.