Near Kitty Hawk in Dare County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Jockey's Ridge

National Landmark of Soaring

courtesy National Soaring Museum

1. Jockey's Ridge Marker

Inscription. The steady winds and gently sloping dunes of soft sand on North Carolina's Outer Banks have been attracting soaring pilots since the early 20th century. The Wright brothers flew many pioneering glider flights at Kitty Hawk between 1900 and 1903 with Orville Wright returning to set a 9 minute 45 second soaring record there in 1911. The area again achieved soaring fame when Francis Rogallo and others introduced hang gliding in the 1970s. These same coastal winds and dunes continue to bring pilots from around the world to soar Jockey's Ridge today.

Erected 2011 by the National Soaring Museum, the Foundation for Free Flight, the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, and The Rogallo Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 35° 57.831′ N, 75° 37.913′ W. Marker is near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in Dare County. Marker can be reached from Carolista Drive, 0.3 miles west of South Croatan Highway (U.S. 158). Located at Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School in Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 302 Carolista Dr, Nags Head NC 27959, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies.

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Wreck of the U.S.S. Huron (approx. 0.9 miles away); Dare County's Tribute to Veterans (approx. 3.7 miles away); Among Friends (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Conquest of the Air (approx. 3.9 miles away); A hospitable people... (approx. 3.9 miles away); 12 Seconds that Changed the World (approx. 3.9 miles away); Windmills on Roanoke Island (approx. 3.9 miles away); Freedmen's Colony (approx. 4 miles away).

Also see . . . Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School. (Submitted on September 13, 2020.)

courtesy Kitty Hawk Kites

2. Jockey's Ridge Marker

Hang Gliding Lesson at Jockey's Ridge image. Click for full size.

courtesy Kitty Hawk Kites

3. Hang Gliding Lesson at Jockey's Ridge

1902 Wright Glider Replica image. Click for full size.

courtesy Kitty Hawk Kites

4. 1902 Wright Glider Replica

Available for the public to fly, at Kitty Hawk Kites.

1970’s Hang Glider image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, 1980

5. 1970’s Hang Glider

This 1978 Seahawk model, manufactured by Seagull Aircraft in Santa Monica, has the standard factory colors. It was a popular training glider at Jockey’s Ridge. This one is being flown by contributor Craig Baker.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 274 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 13, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.