Today in History: Wright Brothers’ First Flight
Today in History–December 17–the Library of Congress features the first flights of the Wright brothers, flown on this day in 1903. Orville piloted the first flight that lasted 12 seconds and 120 feet and Wilbur piloted the fourth and final flight, remaining airborne for 59 seconds and traveling 852 feet. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access a plethora of Wright and other early flight resources.
The Inventive Wright Brothers primary source set (includes teacher’s guide)
Dream of Flight online exhibition
The Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers
- Collection Highlights
- Wilbur and Orville Wright Timeline
- Photography and the Wright Brothers
- “The Belief that Flight is Possible to Man”
Wright Brothers (selected newspaper articles 1903-1905)
More historical newspaper coverage: Wright flight
Wright Brothers Collection Wright State University
Teaching with the Library of Congress blog posts
- Celebrate National Aviation Month with the Wright Brothers and Primary Sources
- Flight is Possible
- Primary Source Starter: The Wright Brothers’ Crumpled Glider
- Sailing the Ozone Ocean Blue: The Wright Brothers Tour the Solar System
- Selecting Primary Sources for the Classroom: Considering Moment of Use
More Library blog posts & articles
- Celebrate Innovators and Changemakers on National Inventors Day! Learn about Aviation Pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright Inside Adams
- Come Fly Away with Me, Courtesy of Wilbur and Orville Inside Adams
- This Day in History: Wright Brothers Take Flight Timeless Stories from the Library
- Highlighting the Holidays: Tree Time at the Wright Brothers’ House Timeless Stories from the Library
- Historic Photos: The Wright Brothers, at Home and in the Air Timeless Stories from the Library
- Homeward We Our Cycles Turned from Wandering in an Unknown Land”: Wilbur Wright’s account of a bicycle ride by the Wright Brothers Unfolding Manuscripts
- Revisiting Rights-Free: Exploring the Wright Brothers Negatives Picture This
- Wilbur and Orville Wright’s First Flight from America’s Library
- The Wright Brothers History Takes Wing at the Library Timeless Stories from the Library
- Writing the Wrights: Uncovering Secret Flights at Kitty Hawk Library of Congress Information Bulletin May 2010
With Wings as Eagles: From Fantasy to Flight (primary source sets documenting the history of flight)