Enjoy free admission and an outdoor movie on National Aviation Day, August 19, at Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial, in partnership with the First Flight Society, will celebrate National Aviation Day on August 19, 2024, at the park and the Dare County Regional Airport. In addition to free entrance for the day and ranger-led educational programs, the park will stay open late for a special viewing of Disney’s “Up” on the lawn of the visitor center.
National Aviation Day, celebrated annually on August 19, was established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor the development of aviation and the birthday of Orville Wright. The day serves as a reminder of the incredible achievements and progress made in aviation and encourages people to continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in flight.
Activities at Dare County Regional Airport
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Visit with Wright Brothers National Memorial rangers at the Dare County Regional Airport, 410 Airport Road, Manteo, North Carolina. Rangers will offer information about Wright Brothers National Memorial in support of the National Aviation Day activities at the airport.
Activities at Wright Brothers National Memorial
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: “Wind and Sand” educational program with Ranger Adonis. Step back in history during this short walk to the actual site of the Wright brothers’ first powered flights. Discover why the Wrights chose Kitty Hawk for their flight experiments and what life was like in the Outer Banks. Learn about the events that led to the first powered flight on that cold December day, and the lasting impact their first flight continues to have on the world today.
1:30-2 p.m.: Park volunteer and aviation enthusiast Chip Walton explains the mechanics and wonders of flight in an engaging and understandable way. Meet Walton in the program tent.
2:30-3 p.m.: Local historian Danny Couch tells the stories of the other famous aviators to visit the Outer Banks, including Charles Lindbergh and Billy Mitchell. Meet Couch in the program tent.
3:30-4 p.m.: Admiral Joey Tynch (retired) shares stories from his career as a naval aviator and his current work as the instructor of the First Flight High School Aviation Program. Meet Tynch in the program tent.
7:15-8 p.m.: Explore the story of the Wright brothers and enjoy the sunset as you walk with Ranger Elizabeth to the top of Big Kill Devil Hill. The walk is a quarter of a mile each way. Meet on the back patio of the visitor center.
8:15-9:45 p.m.: Wright Brothers National Memorial will host a special outdoor showing of Disney’s animated movie, “Up,” rated PG. In this family favorite, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway. Bring your own blankets and chairs to watch the movie under the stars. Rain date: August 22 at 8:15 p.m.
