Bless our National Park staff. They have to deal with some terrible humans, as we witnessed the day we were there. But it was handled well and we enjoyed our time here. There is a ton to see in the visitor center and even more on the other side of Kill Devil Hill (the big hill with monument) They have a Veterans discount in the gift shop! read more

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We were so happy we stopped here. The walk up to the memorial is steep at times, but there are multiple paths to take so others may have been more gradual, but it was part of the experience to step up to where these brothers flew their first flight. Do stop in even just to drive around, it was beautiful! read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Wright Brothers Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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The outdoor memorial is accessible for dog walkers but the museum is not. You can get a beautiful view of the OBX when walking to the top of the monument. A great learning center for kids. read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Walk to the memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

On our recent trip to OBX, the kids and I stopped to see the Wright Brothers Memorial. We'd never been, so wasn't sure what to expect. It was a nice day, so we were able to check out the museum and then wander around the flight area. Lots of folks were climbing the hill to the top, but we were not that adventurous. My kids really enjoyed all the interactive displays in the mueseum though, and once they realized how the guys were actually flying the planes, one said, "I totally would have done that!'' and the other said, "I'd rather be dead than try that." So -- my kids wouldn't have ended up inventing flight I guess. Overall, a nice activity to do in the area if the weather is good and you need a break from the beachfront. read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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We really enjoyed visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Our kids loved it and were actually really interested in learning about the history here, which says a lot. The grounds are well kept, the exhibits are engaging, and the park rangers do an excellent job bringing the story to life. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Very nice museum, with indoor and outdoor exhibits. The main building has history panels and a full size replica of the Wright Flyer. But most of your time will probably take place outside, walking the runway (marked with where each flight successfully took off) and on the observation hill. The hill is a bit of a hike, and really it just gives you a nice high vantage point over the museum grounds and Kill Devil Hills. On the other side of the hill is a sculpture depicting the day of the historic flight. You can walk to drive to it, and it was worth a gander. read more

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If you happen to be in the northern Outer Banks area, you should definitely stop in here! The museum and Visitor Center have a full size replica of the first powered "airplane", and air conditioner, if you need a break from the heat. The view from the top of Big Kill Devil Hill is one of the best views of the banks! The exhibits do their best to explain aero-mechanics, and are fascinating to think about life pre-airports. There is a fee to get in, but the pass is good for a week, so you can come and go. There were kites flying in the field when I went, which was pretty cool to see as well! read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Kites!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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This was my second visit. We arrived an hour before closing, and I was still ok paying the entry fee, but the officer on duty told me about a card for veterans and three guests to get lifetime access to National Parks, and he even gave me card after checking my ID, so the wife and I (and our dog) got in no charge. Thank you. Also nice, we didn't get a hard time bringing our dog like we did last time we visited. The National Park Service has done a great job preserving this historic location. It's spotless and the displays are fascinating. I hope to have the opportunity to visit again. read more

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This is an absolutely must visit for individuals, families, kids and adults! How can you pass up visiting the site where history was made that changed the world. The visitor center is setup very well and if you can catch one of the Ranger's presentations it's worth the wait. If you're lucky, you'll be able to catch a small propeller plane using the active runway. They don't sell food. So bring some just in case. There are picnic tables throughout the grounds. Restrooms are available. Download the National Park Service app and you can use the audio tour for free. read more

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Whether if you're an aviation enthusiast or not, this is a worthwhile place to visit in Kitty Hawk. This is the place where man took mechanized flight for the very first time. Thus, the historical significance is well deserved. It is a National Park, and well designed and laid out. There is a large replica of the Wright Brothers flying machine inside the museum. Outside, you can find the original field i. Which the 4 flights took place. And all the way at the other end of th e field is an enormous memorial dedicated to the Wright Brothers. This is a good place to bring the family and learn about aviation history. read more

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Great Stop, while vitiating the Outer Banks in N.C. Visited the Wright Brothers National Memorial during Memorial day weekend - What a cool place to see where the Pioneers of Flight - Orvile & Wilbur Wright flew the first successful airplane in 1903. The stop is a National Park so if you have a National Park pass entry is free. The park has a Welcome Center full of pictures showcasing the history of the process on how the Wright Brothers reached their first flight(s) On December 17th 1903, the brothers attempted four flights in total the last flight being the longest and the beginning of aviation history. This feet is noted as the first sustained & controlled flight of a powered aircraft. In the Welcome center they have an actual size replica of their plane "Wright Flier" - its pretty to cool to check out. As with any National Park you'll find Park Rangers with an information area along with a gift store. You can take a walking tour with a Ranger for free they have a schedule you can find inside at the information area. Outside of the Welcome Center there's a short walk to airfield and path that leads up to a monument placed at the top of Kill Devil Hill which is the location where they started each flight. When walking to the airfield you'll pass by an area that has replicated the housing and staging buildings during the era of the time when preparing for their flights. The walking path (concrete path) leads up to the monument, as you walk along the airfield you'll pass along flight markers marking the distance of each flight attempt. The park is open 7 days a week and if you dont have a pass the cost is not expensive at all. The only day the Park is closed is Christmas Day. plenty of parking We really enjoyed our visit and it was great walk , read more

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"A soul in tension that's learning to fly There's no sensation to compare with this Suspended animation, a state of bliss" (Pink Floyd) When I walked into the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA a few years ago, I felt the spirit of greatness around me. I had the same sensation of awe when I toured the Mark Twain House in Hartford and paid my respects at the Albert Einstein memorial in Princeton, NJ. I felt that spirit again last week when I toured the museum and grounds of the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC. It was one of the greatest museums and monuments I've ever seen. There are three components to the attraction. The first is the museum itself where you learn about the Wright family, brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright, and the evolution of their idea to create a machine that would fly. They studied weather maps of the U. S. and chose Kitty Hawk as their testing ground for unpowered (glided) and powered flight because of its combination of wind, sand, and isolation. The museum is incredible, and they have a life-sized replica of man's first flying machine. The second component is a huge monument that stands upon a gigantic sand dune known as the "Big Hill". The Wright brothers tested gliders from the hill, and after they flew, they'd lug them up the hill, make refinements, and take off again. There is a spectacular monument on the hill dedicated to the historic day of December 17, 1903, when Wilbur piloted man's first flight of a power-driven, heavier-than-air machine. The monument was started in 1928 and was dedicated by U.S. Congress in 1932. There are busts of the Wright brothers on the back of the monument. The third component shows the progress made in the four earliest powered flights. They took off from the flat ground between the museum and the Big Hill, and that location is marked by the First Flight Boulder. The four flights are represented by a "Flight Line" marking their distances with smaller boulders marking the steady progress of those flights. Each effort showed an improvement in distance as the brothers tinkered with wing design to simulate the balance and control of birds and the pulleys and levers they used for steering and control. Their first flight covered 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds. Their second flight covered 175 feet. Their third flight covered 200 feet. Their fourth covered 852 feet and lasted 59 seconds. I found it incredibly moving to see the flight line and imagine the joy they felt as man lifted off the ground in a machine and flew for the first time. read more

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This is a great location. It was very cool be to able to walk the length of their flight attempts and successes. If you get a chance to hear the presentation please do, it was informative & engaging. Thankful we finally made it to this awesome National Park and slice of American history. read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Awesome presentation -- definitely worth coordinating with the NPS presentation. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

A nice afternoon while in OBX. Quite informative and quick enough that it keeps attention of all ages. read more

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I visited the Wright Brothers Museum on Veteran's Day last year and had an amazing experience. This is a great place to visit in the Outer banks and learn about the history of the Wright Brother and their flight journey You can also buy merchandise here. They have restrooms near the museum as well. There are also short tours that you can take where they discuss the details of their journey which has additional costs In summary, totally worth a visit! PS: 1) This place charges a ticket but is free on national holidays. It was free for us since we visited this on Veteran's day. 2) This place is divided into two areas - The museum and the flight replica with a stone monument. Both are a must-visit and recommended read more

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Very cool national park site. Good interpretative content. Nice ranger talks. Friendly rangers and volunteers. Well maintained grounds. Good junior ranger program. This is an NPS site worth checking out. read more

OUTSTANDING! If you enjoy airplanes, or if you appreciate the tenacity of inventors... this is an excellent spot to visit. There is a museum with a full size mold of the original plane. It's worth visiting first to gain an understanding of just how hard and long the brothers worked on the effort. They were self taught aerodynamicists who pushed the limits of the practice, far exceeding the understanding of the "experts" of their day. There is a huge monument on the hill that they used for glider experiments. It's worth noting that at the time, it was simply a large sand dune, that they trudged up thousands of times carrying their gliders. Then there is a metal sculpture that is full size and features an accurate depiction of the first flight which, fortunately, was captured on film (one of the most famous photographs ever taken.) They also have markers showing the end points of first 4 successful flights. Definitely a must see place... We have national park passes, so it was free to us. read more

Stopped here for a visit - only had about an hour to spend. Was able to walk thru the museum and check out the out outside cabins/our buildings along with the markers of the first flights. Definitely worth stopping for a visit - was pretty cool to see! read more

Lots of cool history surrounding the birth of flight. Nice walking areas and reproduction flight contraptions.

Wow, talk about walking in the footsteps of history. This memorial was a LONG 4-hour drive from our accommodations in Surf City, especially during some of the heaviest rain I've ever experienced (and I'm from Seattle so that's saying something). But wow, it was worth every minute. From the towering hill to the replicas of the Wright Brothers team and their original plane, to the beautifully done visitor center and the runway/landing strip where it all happened, I left there feeling in awe of the accomplishments of this team of bike-builders-turned-history-makers and how they unlocked the mystery of powered flight. If you are even remotely in the area don't miss a visit to Kitty Hawk! read more

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Anyone who loves history at all needs to make a stop here and just revel in how long it took these folks to figure out how to fly, and how much work was put into the first flight. Although it's not very big, I would definitely plan to spend about two hours walking the grounds looking in the museum and taking it all in. Now we've been here March and September and the weather was pretty good. If you plan a trip here in June, July or August, you better bring some water because it is going to be scorching hot while you're outside walking the flight path. read more

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Our family has always been attracted to Aviation, so this was a "Must-See" stop on our trip down the coast. The monument is very spread out, it's basically spread up into five areas: 1. kill devil hill, 2. private airfield where people are actively taking off/landing their personal aircraft, 3. play area, 4. the main museum, and 5. the recreated hangar and living spaces. You can go anywhere you want, there is no mapped out order to visit the areas. We opted to drive to kill devil hill first, make the hike to the top and back down, before driving to the main building/museum. The top of kill devil hill has beautiful views of the grounds. The monument at the top of the hill was dedicated by congress in 1928! There are a few informative plaques around the grounds of kill devil that shed light on changes over the years, what transpired, and exactly what you are looking at. We skipped the play area, but it did look like fun. The museum is incredible. They have original tools and artifacts from the Wrights. There are a couple recreations of inventions (air tunnel) and a life size model of their flying machine. There are multiple period items like newspaper articles and a few videos. You learn a little about the family history, eye witnesses of the flight and a family friend/financier. The private airfield was a bit of a head turner when aircraft were operating, but not really an area we walked or drove up to. It's probably a pretty cool stop to fly into this airfield if you have your license. The Hangar and living spaces were the last stop on our trip and sort of brought everything we learned this day all together. You can walk the distances between the first few flights to really get a feel of how long they had flown for. Overall great experience and I highly recommend if you're a fan of Aviation and/or American History. read more

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My family and I stopped by here for a quick visit. I've always enjoyed the history of airplanes, etc. We only went through the lower museum and then over to the flight path. Enjoyed seeing the museum, stones and the monument. Would highly recommend this bit of history for anyone! read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

I was excited to stop by this famous memorial. I have been several times as a teenager, but hadn't been in many years. There is a small fee to enter the park ($10), but that is good for an all day pass. Great for walking if you want to get your steps in, but there's plenty of roads and parking if you are less mobile and need to drive from spot to spot. There's a lot of history and education here for kids and adults. Highly recommended for a visit and it's one of our National Parks. read more

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TLDR: National memorial in Nags Head. Dog friendly. $10 admission (card only). Parking available. Stay in the car and drive around or walk up the hill to the monument or into the visitors center. While in Nags Head, I was looking for things to do and saw the monument on top of a hill. I googled what is was and realized it was the Wright Brothers National Memorial. I waited by the gate until it opened at 9 am. At 9 am an employee opened the outer gate. The next stop was the ticketing kiosk. Day passes are $10 per person, but you can use it for multiple days. They do not accept cash, card only. The employees are friendly and helpful. After paying and passing through the kiosk, we drove past the visitor's center. We did not go inside since I was not sure if dogs were allowed. According to the website, the visitors center has a park store, hands-on exhibits, and trip planning information. We parked at the bottom of the hill and walked up to the memorial. Even at 9 am the short trek uphill was exhausting and hot, but well worth it. My dogs had a great time. Once at the top we enjoyed viewing the monument and looking out over the rest of the memorial. Next we drove to the 1903 sculpture displaying the moment of first flight frozen in time. The sculpture is very well done and hands on. There are several signs sharing information about the Wright brothers and flight. We left shortly after to head to the beach. I think we stayed about an hour here. Overall, we had a great experience and recommend this memorial to others! read more

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Don't miss this bit of history while in Kitty Hawk. A very informative museum gave me a real appreciation for what Orville and Wilbur accomplished. These two high school graduates were geniuses. The amount of physics and engineering they applied is astounding. You owe it to yourself to visit the memorial. read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

This had been the most anticipated National Park we were stopping at because I love flying and history and everything associated with it. I was so excited to see where the first flight took place. Maybe I built it up too much in my mind, but after visiting a few other National Park sites, I thought this one was going to be spectacular. The architecture of the building is fantastic, the gift shop is great and has some really neat stuff in it, the rangers are friendly. The exhibits were lacking. There were hardly any interactive exhibits, and if there were any, they were out of order, or not functioning due to COVID. I thought that odd considering the other National Parks I have been to were during COVID and their interactive exhibits were up and running. There is a lot of walking here, so make sure you bring a bottle of water. There is a bottle filling station inside the main building where the museum and gift shop is. I liked the memorial at the top of the hill. The views are great. But again, there is a large hill with lots of walking, so be prepared, especially on a hot day. Also, I loved the plane sculpture on the other side of the memorial. It was cool to see, but it only took about 2 hours at the most, and that is being generous. read more

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Pretty accessible except for the monument uphill - otherwise you can drive around up to the sculpture garden to park. Definitely a ton of history to read - pretty cool. And veterans and guests are free ! read more

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This is one of the best national parks in North Carolina because it emulates the natural beauty of the United States and American ingenuity to utilize the environment for the purpose of exploration and discovery! very educational but not "schoolish," this is a great place to stop over while staying at the outer banks or to see while in the Carolina's! read more

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The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a great tribute to Orville and Wilbur Wright whose persistence changed transportation in the world. Admission is $10 for those 16 and over and free for those 15 and under. The National Park is free to everyone six days a year so check out the website for those dates. With COVID, masks are required to be worn inside the museum and the restrooms that are accessed from outside the building. I didn't have time to walk to the memorial on the hill or see the camp buildings as I was with a group and we just had limited time so I focused on the museum and the outside area of the museum and the gift shop. Outside of the museum are markers where Orville and Wilbur Wrights first four flights took place and how far they made it at each attempt. They weren't flying very far. I loved the messages conveyed inside the museum about the need to keep trying after failure and the need to keep putting in the work; think outside the box; keep learning; anticipate setbacks; practice and refine your work; and finish what you started. These men used science and experimented with their studying of it. Because they did not give up and kept trying we have another way to travel today. I want to get back and explore the rest of the national park. read more

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My only complaint is that tours are sparse and I was unable to find out ahead of time when they are given to plan accordingly. This happened at a lot of local tourist stops (particularly the Lost Colony, whose website says to "stop by for information") so it may be related to COVID, staff shortages, who knows? But--even without a guided tour this is worth a stop. Without the tour, about 45 minutes gives you time to browse the museum, see the replicas, hike up to the monument, and walk the spots along the path marking initial trial launches and landings. There are a plethora of spots worthy of selfies and photo opps as well! A cool piece of history and a reminder of the daring and genius of those who took this leap with such basic tools at their disposal. To think we grew from gliders to spaceships in barely two generations, within the same century! read more

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We had been here several years ago, and they have really improved the visitors center. We really enjoyed reading the information within the visitors center. Very well laid out and they even have a full size replica of the plane. They also had small models of the earlier versions they tried. Outside they have clearly marked where the first (as well as second, third and fourth) flight took off and where each one landed, which really gave you a good perspective. You can also walk up a small hill which offers a nice view. Just behind the hill is another mock up, but this is a mock up of the first photograph. We thought it was worth the walk to go see. read more

Absolutely breathtaking views. This memorial is the perfect balance of information, beauty and space. Seriously, there's ample parking, lots of space for our family of 5 to spread around, look at the historic spread and read all the history. We took a picture in front of the plane, walked around to where the first planes took off (and landed) and walked all the way up to the breathtaking view at the top of the hill. Gorgeous, and unbelievable price. read more

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We really enjoyed our visit to this memorial. We came in the middle of Covid-19, so we decided to skip the indoor museum portion. The outdoor portion of it was really interesting. There were lots of signs with information about the Wright brothers and their first flights. You can walk to the markers where their first flight was to and up to the top of the hill where the memorial is. It's a nice area to walk around and the view from the top of the hill is pretty nice. I've heard it's a good place for sunset, but we didn't stay for that. It's $10/person to get in. If you like national parks, I'd recommend just getting a national parks pass instead though since it gets you into all of the national parks sites. I definitely think this is worth a stop while in the Outer Banks! read more

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The Wright Brothers National Memorial is an important historic site, but it can feel a bit boring if you're not into aviation. Still worth visiting for history enthusiasts! read more

We stopped in here and I wasn't expecting much just a memorial or something but I was wrong!!! My husband and I along with our German shepherd walked all over, learned a lot, and talked with many kind people while we were there. They also participate in the BARK Ranger program! read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - BARK Ranger Certificate - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

This place is nice and clean, and knowing that this was the first time when the Wright brothers Wilbur and Oliver made history with the first powered flight. There are plenty of parking spots and if you have a military ID you get in for free. My family and I did make it all the way up to the top as it was so hot and very windy that day. Other than that this museum is a great historical place and a must-visit place. read more

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Love when friends come to visit the OBX. We come down here about twice a month. It's exciting for us when we have friends visit. For those new to the OBX, I like giving them a quick tour of my favorite area, the Wright Brothers Museum. Cost is $10 a person and includes all the indoors and outdoors area. Lots of photo op moments. The summer months can be brutally hot so I recommend hitting this place earlier in the day. read more

Facilitated by the National Park Service the grounds and museum celebrate the First in Flight of the Wright Brothers. Good for both families with kids or simply an older adult you will leave with an appreciation of the brothers accomplishments. The museum is a15-30 minute experience. Nothing flashy, good information sorted by models, some life size and photos. The grounds allow you to imagine what the conditions were like in the early 20th century. If u have children you can allow them to run around and burn off some energy. There is an admission fee to get on the grounds. read more

Wright Brothers National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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The entire park visit is pretty quick, maybe an hour or so, but well worth the stop! The Ranger/Docent who led the tour was fantastic! I felt like I was there while the brothers were flying. read more