Wright National Memorial Free Family Fun Day Celebrates Wilbur’s Birthday

Posted By Matt Artz on April 11, 2014

Wilbur Wright’s 147^th  birthday celebration will be a free Family Fun Day at Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills this Wednesday, April 16, from 9am to 5pm.

Wilbur Wright was born near Millville, Indiana on April 16, 1867.  He and his younger brother Orville were the first to fly on that historic morning of December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Park fees will be waived for the celebration this Wednesday. 

Read on for the complete schedule of events happening throughout the day!

All Day – Junior Flight Ranger Program:Designed for kids ages 5-13, pick-up a Junior Ranger booklet at the visitor center information desk and earn your Junior Ranger badge!

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Fly-In Jam:  The Flying Musicians, a group of aviation enthusiasts, will land at First Flight Airstrip and perform an acoustic concert.  All children are invited to bring instruments and join in the Jam!  –  Pilot’s Facility

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Faster Than a Flyer:  The first flight on December 17^th, 1903 lasted only 12 seconds and traveled a modest 120 feet.  Work with a ranger to figure out just how fast the Wright Flyer flew that day, and then test yourself to see if you are faster! – First Flight Boulder

10:00 a.m. – Flight Room Talk:  Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a ranger recounts their triumph here.  Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium (25 min)

11:00 a.m. – Flight Room Talk:  Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a ranger recounts their triumph here.  A short presentation about the 2013 International Young Aviation Artist Contest winners precedes this talk.  Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium (25 min)

11:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Snapshot in Time:  The First Flight Boulder marks the exact takeoff point of the first controlled, heavier-than-air, powered flight in the history of the world.  Join us as we explore the profound power of this place and recreate the famous image of the first flight.  (15 min)

12:00 p.m. – Flying to the Beat:  Join the Flying Musicians as they present a program about the correlation between aviation and music.  All those attending can join in singing Wilbur Wright a happy birthday and enjoy a piece of cake in his honor!  (30 min)

1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. – Flight Room Talk:  Learn how the Wright brothers solved the problems of human flight as a ranger recounts their triumphs.  Visitor Center Flight Room Auditorium  (25 min)

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