Happy Wright Brothers Day! On December 17, 1903 the Wright Brothers made their historic maiden flight. That first flight went 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds and ushered in the pioneer era of aviation. There are a few places across the country that preserve and honor Orville and Wilbur Wright’s contributions to the age of flight.
Wright Brothers National Museum- Dayton, Ohio
The John W. Berry, Sr. Wright Brothers National Museum has more Wright artifacts on display than any other place in the world, including the 1905 Wright Flyer III— the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark. Preserving the 1905 Wright Flyer III for Carillon Historical Park was Orville Wright’s last major project before he died. While Orville died before Carillon Park was opened in 1950, he had a hand in designing Wright Hall—the building that houses the 1905 Wright Flyer III.
Adjacent to Wright Hall is Carillon Historical Park’s Wright bicycle shop—a replica of Wilbur and Orville’s fifth and final store at 1127 W. Third St. in West Dayton. The shop resembles how the Wright brothers’ store would have appeared between mid-October to mid-December 1901. Inside this shop, managed by the Dayton Aviation National Historical Park, are tools and bikes from the time. Many of their lightweight bicycle building techniques translated directly to airplane construction.
The Henry Ford Museum- Dearborn, Michigan
In 1936, with Orville’s endorsement, Henry Ford purchased the original Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop building, and in 1938, it was moved from Dayton and dedicated at Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The museum also features a replica of the 1903 plane the Wright Brothers used for their first flight.
Wright Brothers National Memorial- Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Visit the location of the first flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in North Carolina. The 60-foot granite monument is surrounded by markers indicating the successful launching and landing points of the flight, as well as a visitor center and exhibits celebrating the first century of flight.
Bonus: For even more information on the Wright Brothers, visit The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. We strongly advise taking one of the tours while visiting the Air and Space Museum as well. Learn how the Wright Brothers and a other innovators changed our lives and the way we travel.
