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Fun Holiday – Wright Brothers Day

Wright Brothers Day on December 17 recognizes the first time Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully flew their heavier-than-air, mechanically propelled aircraft in 1903.

17Dec
Wright Brothers Day
Thursday, December 17, 2026
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Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
Celebrate and honor aviation pioneers on Wright Brothers Day.
©iStockphoto.com/marcnorman

In the United States, the day has been observed nationally since 1959 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation declaring December 17 as Wright Brothers Day.

Read more about the holiday

How to Celebrate?

  • Read more about the history of aviation.
  • Visit your local aviation museum and learn about the science behind building a safe, fast and efficient aircraft.
  • If you have always wanted to learn how to fly, why not start lessons on this day?

Did You Know…

…that Orville and Wilbur were the only two in their immediate family never to attend college?