Wright Brothers NM

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

We came to the Outer Banks for one reason this time, to be a passporter. This being said, we were dealing with the remains of Tropical Storm Julia, which dumped several inches of rain to the north of the Outer Banks. We drove in rain all the way from Pennsylvania the day before and were ready to do some exploring.In the hotel, we watched the forecast for the day and it looked as the rainfall was to be south of the OBX, but today we focused on the Northern Beaches/ Bodie Island. We started the morning in Corolla under Drizzle at the Currituck Beach Light (yes, a stamp) After stopping briefly at the Aycock Brown Welcome Center in Kitty Hawk and the Goodwill Store (they call them GCF here) across the road in the Town of Southern Shores, we approached the entrance gate having all necessary forms to enter, the only word out of the ranger at the booth gate was "ranger talk at 11:00", whatever.

We park the car and proceed to the visitor center under dark clouds, thus only getting the sole outdoor photo for this park unit. After proceeding to enter the building which is a former work of the NPS movement of Mission 66, as the Comfort facilities are located to the exterior of this building. The bookstore is our next destination, we do the stamp thing and browse the selection, making a purchase. Next, we proceed through the exhibits, ending in the Airplane Room.

As we left the park, we encircled the monument as we were not prepared to climb the hill to it nor explore the outside elements of this park in the closure of a Tropical Storm.

Park Synopsis

Come experience the place where two young brothers from Dayton, Ohio experimented with flight in the early 1900s, and finally succeeding on a cold winter day with the world's first controlled, sustained, powered, heavier-than-air flight.

Exploring the grounds gives you an opportunity to see reproductions of the brothers' 1903 camp buildings, stand at the place where Wilbur and Orville Wright first took to the air in their 1903 flyer and landed, and climb Big Kill Devil Hill to see the nation's monument commemorating the brothers' historic achievement. You can also take in an interpretive program on the brothers, examine the replicas of the 1902 glider and 1903 flyer, and see portraits of other famous aviators.

If You Go

Wright Brothers National Memorial is located in the heart of the Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands in eastern North Carolina. The memorial is located in the town of Kill Devil Hills, NC and is open every day of the year except December 25. For additional information or resources in planning your visit to the Outer Banks, please visit the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

Wright Brothers National Memorial is open seven days a week, year-round, 9 am–5 pm. The only day the park is closed is Christmas Day, December 25. Plans call in 2018 for the Visitor Center to be renovated and expanded, for this to happen a temporary shelter will be constructed during that time containing an information desk, five interpretive posters and a bookstore. 

An entrance pass is required for every person to enter Wright Brothers National Memorial and cost $7 a person, unless you have a NPS Pass or are of the Commercial entity, you can find current information here. Your pets are welcome at Wright Brothers National Memorial. Your pet must be on a leash no longer than 6’ at all times. Pets are not allowed in buildings. Please, for your pet’s sake, never leave them unattended. Also, for everyone’s and the environment’s sake, clean up after your pet.

Accessibility

Visitor center parking and exhibits are accessible. The mall path is accessible, and wheelchairs are available from the visitor center front desk for limited use.

For persons with low or no vision, please inform an interpretive ranger or volunteer at the front desk and they can provide an alternative experience with the reproduction of the 1903 flyer.