Wright Brothers National Memorial, North Carolina

This volume invites listeners to explore the origins of one of America’s most iconic historic sites. It explains how the National Park Service preserves the Wright Brothers National Memorial, offering insight into the landscape, the mission to safeguard both natural beauty and pioneering heritage, and the careful research that underpins the park’s interpretation.

The narrative begins with the modest upbringing of Wilbur and Orville Wright in post‑Civil War Ohio. Raised by a minister‑father and a mechanically gifted mother, the brothers were encouraged to tinker, build kites, and even assemble a printing press from salvaged parts. Their early collaboration on a neighborhood newspaper showcases the inventive spirit that would later carry them to Kitty Hawk, setting the stage for the groundbreaking experiments that changed the world.