Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore will virtually commemorate three important anniversaries next month. The special events will be available to watch on social media and Dare County’s CURRENTtv.
On Dec. 17, 2020, Wright Brothers National Memorial, in partnership with First Flight Society and Outer Banks Forever, will commemorate the 117th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first heavier-than-air, controlled, powered flight. Park entrance fees will be waived on the first flight anniversary.
On Dec. 16, 2020, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, in partnership with the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society and Outer Banks Forever, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse’s first lighting. The world-famous lighthouse was first lit on Dec. 16, 1870. The special event will begin around 4:50 p.m. with a livestream view of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, followed by a 20-30-minute video broadcast of speeches. The video will feature Superintendent David Hallac, local elected officials, historians, and more.
This year also marks the 150th anniversary of Dare County, and the December 16th celebration will highlight the unique connection between the lighthouse and the county.
Throughout the month of December, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore will publish content on social media to highlight these important dates. Follow on Facebook at @WrightBrothersNMEM and @CapeHatterasNS to interact with park rangers, partners, and historians during the month.
Additional details about each event, including specific times and lists of speakers, will be announced in early December.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
