Wright Brothers National Memorial

The basics

One of the most popular attractions in the Outer Banks, the Wright Brothers National Memorial sprawls across 428 acres (173 hectares). Its key landmark is the 60-foot (18-meter) art deco–style granite monument that sits atop Big Kill Devil Hill, where the brothers conducted their glider experiments. Landing spots are denoted via ground markers, and visitors are encouraged to walk the path between them to get a sense of scale (and to walk the fine line between failure and success).

Beyond the outdoor exhibits, the site has an impressive visitor center and several museum exhibits (including recreated gliders and flying machines), plus a reconstructed hangar and living quarters, offering a glimpse into how the Wright brothers lived during their 1903 experiments.

Things to know before you go

• This is a national park, with an entrance fee to visit the grounds.
• During the summer, rangers conduct talks and demonstrations—ask at the visitor center about the day’s schedule.
• Restrooms can be found at the visitor center.

How to get there

Most visitors will arrive by car, and the memorial is a stop on many self-driving audio tours. That said, this area—halfway between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head—offers lots of hotels and restaurants, some just a block away. If you’re already here, you might be able to walk on over.

When to get there

While summer is the Outer Banks’ high season, the best time to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. What’s more, with shorter days, you can come in the afternoon and catch the first rays of sunset from atop Big Kill Devil Hill before the memorial closes.

Fly in their footsteps

Touring the memorial and learning about the brothers’ feats is just the beginning—120 years later, this area is still fabulous for the power of flight. Kiteboarding and parasailing are practically rites of passage here, and when you take off from the dunes at spots like nearby Jockey’s Ridge State Park (a 10-minute drive south), you’re basically participating in local history.