In 1926, a group of forwardthinking North Carolina Outer Bankers began an effort to preserve the original site of the Wright brothers flights of December 17, 1903. The group organized formally in 1927 as the Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association and set about their task of acquiring the sandy stretch of dunes where the Wrights made four historic flights on that day. The high dunes, located in what was then Kitty Hawk but has since become the town of Kill Devil Hills, were chosen by the Wrights because of the windy conditions and relative isolation. In 1928, the Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association initiated the construction of the nowfamous landmark monument. Just as the first powered flights were no easy accomplishment, neither was the building of the massive yet impressive stone monument. It took money, hard work and four years to be erected. Its inscription is a reminder of what was accomplished here by two of the most dedicated and persevering inventors in the world: In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Conceived by genius and achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith.

Address: P. O. Box 1903, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
Telephone: 252-441-1903
Website: http://www.firstflight.org/shrine/alan_shepard.cfm