One of the most artistic and appealing monuments to the Wright Brothers is a hidden gem of the Outer Banks. Unseen behind the Aycock Brown Welcome Center in Kitty Hawk, the Monument to a Century of Flight is beautiful testament to the spirit of flight and the creativity of century of scientific progress.
The parking lot for the monument is behind the Welcome Center and walking up the sidewalk to the monument, the visitor’s eyes go to the fourteen stainless steel and black granite pylons starting at 10 feet and rising to 20 feet. Laid out in a concentric design, there is a feeling of flight swirling into the sky. The pylons are winged shaped with a curved side resembling the leading edge of a wing.
The monument was designed by local artist Glenn Eure and the husband and wife team Hannah Jubran and Jodi Hollnagel Jubran who teach sculpture at ECU.
Each pylon is inscribed with the first inscriptionreading, “1903 December 17 Kitty Hawk, NC Orville and Wilbur Wright Accomplish World’s First Powered, Controlled, Sustained Manned Flight In Heavier Than Air Machine.”
The pylons then trace remarkable achievements in the first 100 years of flight ending with, “2000 October First Crew of International Space Station Arrives In Orbit Establishing Continuous Human Presence in Space.”
There is a bronze dome in the center of the Monument, rising from he brick base. The earth is depicted on it and wound the base of the dome some of the most important aircraft that has led to modern aviation are portrayed. The words, “When Orville Wright lifted from the sands of Kitty Hawk at 10:35 on the morning of December 17, 1903 we were on our way to the moon and beyond,” call attention to what Wilbur and Orville Wright accomplished.
Dedicated in November of 2003, it is a testament to the vision and perseverance of Glen Eure, who passed away in 2018.
There are hidden gems throughout the Outer Banks. Spend some time with us at Brindley Beach Vacations and discover how wonderful life on a sand bar is.