Kitty Hawk

We spent our last day in Nags Head at Kitty Hawk, the location where the first airplane was built and flown.

It was really cool. As we pulled in, we were met by a guard and we were given a pass for all the national parks. To have that we paid 80 bucks.

There was a bright red visitor's center, a steep hill with an overpowering monument, and a flat field with two sheds. This was my first look at Kitty Hawk.

We steered into the parking lot, parked and walked towards the visitors center. In it were paintings of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the creators and pilots of the plane. I learned interesting facts about the brothers, saw a replica of the plane, watched a small documentary about it, and was allowed to play on the replica. Mom has awesome pictures of that. I am sure she will post them.

I next walked to the field and 2 sheds where the Wright Brothers made and flew the plane.

They ate and slept in the sheds and it became their home away from home. Originally from Dayton, OH, the brothers came to Kitty Hawk because of the soft sand and frequent winds.

I was so interested and amazed that two men's small experiment triggered 104 years of aviation and lunar achievements. It is baffling.

The coolest part of the visit was looking at the monument of the Wright Brothers, stretching to nearly 110 ft. It was rectangular shaped monument engraved with how great the Wright Brother's achievement was. I don't remember the exact words, but they were good ones.

Here are some facts you might not know about the Wright brother's and their legacy:

1: The Wright Brother's were bicycle mechanics and also owned a newspaper.

2: Their father was a bishop.

3: From an early age, the brothers were interested in flight.

4: On Dec. 17, 1907 Orville became the first man on a plane which he flew for 12 sec.

5: For the next few hours, the brothers took turns flying. Wilbur (12 sec.), Orville (15 sec.) Wilbur, (59 sec.).

6: Orville's favorite sandwich was tuna and pickles.

7: The plane broke after the fourth attempt.

8: The brothers shook hands before Orville "boarded" the plane, acting like they wouldn't see each other again.

9: Wilbur liked to golf.

10: Neil Armstrong, first man to land on the moon, took a chip of the wood from the wright's plane when he landed on the moon.

I had a really fun time at Kitty Hawk. That's two states down, 45 to go (not counting GA).

See you next time on Bourne's BIG Trip! (I feel like an announcer).

Loving Virginia,

Andrew.