Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kitty Hawk, NC

Posted by Don Crockett on March 4, 2012

I spent the morning at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC taking panoramic images for a virtual park tour. I would have liked a sunny day with a few cumulous clouds for the photography but the forecast was for light showers. Luckily the rain held off and there were only a few sprinkles while I was shooting. I ended up taking 4 panoramic images outdoors and 3 panoramic images inside the visitors center. I've processed a panoramic image of a sculpture reenacting the first flight and included it below.

The first flight sculpture is on the opposite side of Kill Devil Hill from the visitors center (see map below). The life-sized sculpture depicts the first flight just before liftoff of the 1903 Wright Flyer with Orville on board and Wilbur by the wingtip with various onlookers including the photographer John T. Daniels who took the famous photograph of the first flight. The State of North Carolina commissioned Stephen H. Smith to create the stainless steel and bronze sculpture and donated it to the National Park Service at a dedication on December 17, 2003, the centennial of the first flight. It's called an "interactive scuplpture" because kids are encouraged to get up on the flier and explore it.

First Flight Sculpture: 360° Interactive Panoramic Image

First Flight Sculpture: 200° Panoramic Image

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Map of Wright Brothers National Memorial with Marker for First Flight Sculpture