A hospitable people...

Wilbur and Orville Wright accepted William J. Tate’s invitation to Kitty Hawk and found on North Carolina’s Outer Banks both hospitable people and the conditions they needed to fly: wind, sand, and solitude. Although solitude helped them do their work, they did not work alone. From 1900 to 1903, families from local communities and crews from local life saving stations gave the Wrights much-needed assistance. On the morning of December 17, 1903, the Wrights signaled for help, and John T. Daniels, W.S. Dough, A.D. Etheridge, W.C. Brinkley of Manteo, and Johnny Moore of Nags Head arrived. With their help, the Flyer was moved to the launch rail, and the men cheered as it lifted off the ground. The Wrights’ historic achievement was supported by the hospitable people of the Outer Banks, whose local families and descendants of the first flight witnesses continue to welcome visitors to the Memorial and the Outer Banks.

Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina · United States