Kill Devil Hills in Dare County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Commemoration

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2017

1. Commemoration Marker

Inscription.
On December 17th, 1928, only 25 years after the Wrights achieved flight, three thousand people from over forty nations gathered at this remote place to celebrate the global importance of the birth of flight.

The National Aeronautic Association dedicated the First Flight Boulder (on your right), marking the takeoff point of the first flights. The cornerstone of the Wright Brothers Monument (on your left)—our nation’s tribute to the brothers—was set atop Big Kill Devil Hill.

Even today, more than 100 years since their achievement, people from all over the world visit this site to honor and remember the Wright brothers—and find inspiration.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is December 17, 1928.

Location. 36° 1.184′ N, 75° 40.113′ W. Marker is in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, in Dare County. Marker can be reached from Wright Memorial west of North Croatan Highway (U.S. 158), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located within the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park, overlooking the site of Orville & Wilber's first successful powered flight. Touch for map.

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Marker is in this post office area: Kill Devil Hills NC 27948, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Flights: December 17th, 1903 (here, next to this marker); The Camp (here, next to this marker); Home Away From Home (a few steps from this marker); The First Flight (a few steps from this marker); Kill Devil Hills (a few steps from this marker); Getting Off the Ground (a few steps from this marker); The First Successful Flight of an Airplane (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The First Flight (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kill Devil Hills.

Also see . . .
1. 25th anniversary of the first powered flights. The cornerstone for the Monument was laid during the 25th anniversary of the first powered flights. Orville Wright was the guest of honor at the cornerstone laying in 1928, along with Amelia Earhart, who had just recently become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. (Submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Commemorating the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. An important first step in the realization of the Wright Brothers National Memorial occurred on December 17, 1928, when 200 delegates from the International Civil Aeronautics Conference

Marker detail: First Flight Boulder dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 1928

2. Marker detail: First Flight Boulder dedication

Notable aviators, like Orville Wright (center left) and Amelia Earhart (right), attended the unveiling of the First Flight Boulder.

and more than 3,000 visitors dedicated a granite marker placed at the approximate location of the 1903 liftoff and laid the cornerstone of the monument to be placed on Kill Devil Hill. W.O. Saunders, Senator Hiram Bingham, and Secretary of War Dwight Davis addressed the crowd, including Orville Wright and Amelia Earhart. The National Aeronautics Association provided the marker, carved to resemble a boulder. (Submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Wright Brothers National Memorial. National Park Service (Submitted on September 26, 2021.)

Marker detail: Big Kill Devil Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 1928

3. Marker detail: Big Kill Devil Hill

Celebrants climbed up Big Kill Devil Hill for the laying of the monument’s cornerstone. In 1932, the completed monument was dedicated.

Commemoration Marker (<i>wide view; First Flight Boulder visible in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2017

4. Commemoration Marker (wide view; First Flight Boulder visible in background)

Photographed By Tom Bosse, September 18, 2021

5. Commemoration Marker

Photographed By Tom Bosse, September 18, 2021

6. Commemoration Marker

Marker is located on the left.

First Flight Boulder (<i>near this marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2017

7. First Flight Boulder (near this marker)

Wright Brothers Monument (<i>uphill from this marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 19, 2017

8. Wright Brothers Monument (uphill from this marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 479 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2018. 4. submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on September 26, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 6. submitted on January 22, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 7, 8. submitted on February 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.