Wright Memorial Hosts Family Fun for National Aviation Day

Posted By on August 14, 2012

Admission to Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills is free this Sunday, August 19, in celebration of Orville Wright’s 141st birthday, recognized throughout America as National Aviation Day.

Wright National Monument on December 17, 2003 - the 100th Anniversary of the First Flight. (photo: Artz Music & Photography)

Wright National Monument on December 17, 2003 – the 100th Anniversary of the First Flight. (photo: Artz Music & Photography)

Sunday, August 19, 2012 will be a Family Fun Day at Wright Brothers National Memorial as the National Park Service and the First Flight  Society celebrates National Aviation Day, historically proclaimed as a day of national observance. 

August 19 was selected as National Aviation Day because it is the birthday of Orville Wright, the first man to fly, who was born in Dayton, Ohio on August 19, 1871.  He and his older brother, Wilbur Wright, were the  first to fly on that historic morning of December 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

Wright Brothers National Memorial will be open from 9am to 5pm this Sunday, and park admission fees will be waived for this celebration.

The Wright Brothers took off into history on December 17, 1903 in Kill Devil Hills, NC.

The Wright Brothers took off into history on December 17, 1903 in Kill Devil Hills, NC.

 Read on for the full schedule of events:

9 am to 5 pm – Junior Flight Ranger Program: Kids . . . don’t forget to ask about the Wright Brothers Junior Ranger Program!  Pick-up a Junior Ranger booklet at the visitor center information desk.

10 am to 11am  – Hands-on activities for children and adults: Astronaut  Dr. Don Thomas conducts hands-on experiments; how liquids act in space  Centennial Pavilion Exhibit Hall.

10 am to 10:30 am  Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their  triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

10 am to 2 pm – Let’s Go Fly A Kite: There will be fun for the whole  family with kite building and kite flying demonstrations by Kitty Hawk  Kites. Centennial Pavilion Exhibit Hall.

10 am to 3 pm – Book Signing: Author Jim Martin will be signing his latest released book “The Beacon On Kill Devil Hill”.  Main Lobby Visitor Center.

11 am to 11:30 pm – The Bishop’s Boys, A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright: Presented by Tom Crouch of the Air and Space Museum, followed by a book signing in the visitor center lobby.  Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

12 pm to 1 pm – Living and Working in Space: Astronaut Dr. Don Thomas presents: Preparing for humankinds next step to the Moon, Mars and Beyond Centennial Pavilion Auditorium.

1 pm to 1:30 pm – Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved  the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their  triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium.

2 pm to 2:30 pm – To Be the First to Fly!:  Dr. Tom Crouch of the Air and Space Museum explores other claims around the world to be the first to  fly; followed by a book signing in the visitor center lobby.  Visitor  Center Flight Room Auditorium.

3 p. to 4 pm – Hands-on Activities for Children and Adults: Astronaut Dr. Don Thomas conducts hands-on experiments; how liquids act in space  Centennial Pavilion Exhibit Hall.

4 pm to 4:30 pm – Flight Room Talk: Learn how the Wright brothers solved  the problems of human flight as a park ranger tells the story of their  triumph at Kitty Hawk. Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium. 

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Posted by Matt Artz

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