Historic Mission 66 Visitor Center and Museum

The visitor center at Wright Brothers National Memorial is the best place to start your visit!

The Visitor Center offers trip planning information, a park store, and hands-on exhibits that bring to life the Wright brothers’ journey to flight. Don’t miss the replica 1903 Wright Flyer in the Flight Room! Read on to learn about the history of this incredible building.

 

The Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center in 1962.

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Laying the Foundation
In 1956, the National Park Service initiated Mission 66: a ten-year program leading up to the 50^th anniversary of the agency. Mission 66’s goal was to build much-needed park facilities across the park system to match the growing demands of post-war increased visitation. As the 50^th anniversary of powered flight grew near, Wright Brothers National Memorial was chosen as one of the sites at which a state-of-the-art modernist visitor center was to be built.

Ehrman Mitchell and Romaldo Giurgola designed the building to embody “Park Service Modern” architecture, and it is a striking example of the Philadelphia School of modern architecture. Mitchell and Giurgola creatively juxtaposed concrete, metal, and wood to invoke feelings of lightness and flight. The building was their first major success – it attracted national attention which propelled them into the spotlight. The Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center was initially opened to the public on July 15, 1960.

 

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But What Does It Look Like?
Text from the National Historic Landmark Nomination form states: “The visitor center is a single-story concrete and glass building, slightly elevated on a 128-foot square concrete platform. Two parallel, rectangular blocks with flat roofs occupy the east half of the platform. The easternmost block consists of restrooms and offices, and the other serves as entry lobby and display area. The display area joins directly to a large domed "assembly room," square in plan, that occupies the northwest quarter of the platform. The southwest quarter of the platform is an open "ceremonial terrace," and the southeast corner is open as well, functioning as a smaller "entry terrace."”

Most notable at first glance are the bright orange window casings bordering floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow visitors an excellent view of the First Flight Boulder and Flight Line. Then, one’s eye may turn to the square projection which seems to leap from above the Flight Room, evoking a sense of weightlessness and the idea of technological advancement. Those who venture inside often note the tongue-and-groove cypress paneling and the incredible display of late-afternoon light during golden hour.

 

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Recognizing Excellence
The Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 3^rd, 2001. You can read the National Historic Landmark Nomination form here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/47718773.

The significance statement of the form states: “The Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center is one of the four most significant examples of the particular strain of American modem architecture that can be described as Park Service Modern. Because of its significance as an example of American modern architecture of the period, the property possesses extraordinary national importance…”

 

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Saving a Treasure
A rehabilitation project began in 2016; the National Park Service planned to preserve and restore the building’s historic features and to rehabilitate its mechanical and electrical systems. A temporary visitor center was available during the renovation.

Everything inside the visitor center was updated or moved – including the replica 1903 Wright Flyer! The reproduction Flyer had been gifted to Wright Brothers National Memorial by Harry Combs, who commissioned the replica to be built by the park’s 2003 centennial of first flight. The park and partners worked together to transport the replica Flyer to the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, NC, where it remained on loan during the rehabilitation project. Renovations were complete in 2018, and the Flyer was put back home in the Flight Room before the windows were installed. A grand reopening ceremony was held on October 20, 2018. It was a great day – speeches were made, a big ribbon was cut, and 4^th graders from Dare County participated in programs focused on aviation, history, and STEAM-based activities.

 

Interested in Learning More?

View our Historic Mission 66 Visitor Center photo gallery for a glimpse into the past!

For an overview of the Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center and Mission 66,
check out the video below!

 

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 39 seconds

While the exhibits tend to draw people into the Visitor Center at Wright Brothers National Memorial, the building itself is full of history.