Wright Brothers Monument photograph   Save
Ohio Department of Industrial and Economic Development
Description: This image shows the monument to the Wright Brothers in Dayton, Ohio. Wilbur and Orville attended the local public schools in Dayton, but neither graduated from high school or attended college. Nevertheless, they grew up in an environment that encouraged creative and intellectual development. Their household included a large family library from which the brothers read extensively. While not necessarily well schooled, the brothers were well educated. On December 14, 1903, the Wright brothers were ready to test an aircraft they had built. With Wilbur at the controls, the experiment failed and the plane sustained minor damage. After repairing the aircraft, they tried again on December 17. This time, with Orville piloting, the plane stayed in the air for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. The length and duration of the flight were not much by today's standards, but the Wright brothers had demonstrated that sustained flight in a heavier-than-air craft was possible. The brothers tested their aircraft three more times that day with increasing levels of success. The final flight of the day carried Wilbur 852 feet in 59 seconds. The brothers are buried in the family plot at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06524
Subjects: Monuments; Wright, Orville, 1871-1948; Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)