The town was founded and developed on the site of the Wright brothers' first controlled, powered airplane flights on December 17, 1903, chosen for its good winds. It was commemorated by the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which was dedicated in 1932. At the time of the Wright Flyer flights, the town of Kill Devil Hills did not exist, and it did not receive its municipal charter until 1953. Kitty Hawk, approximately north, was the nearest settlement at the time and is popularly noted as the site of the first flight.
The town was founded and developed on the site of the Wright brothers' first controlled, powered airplane flights on December 17 1903, chosen for its good winds. It was commemorated by the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which was dedicated in 1932. At the time of the Wright Flyer flights, the town of Kill Devil Hills did not exist, and it did not receive its m,unicipal charter until 1953 Kitty Hawk, ,approximately north was the nearest settlement at the time and is popularly noted .as the site of the first flight.