Wright Brothers

Wright brothers, 1910

The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were two American aviators, engineers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who are generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world’s first successful airplane. They made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903, four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In 1904–05 the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. Although not the first to build experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. Wikipedia

Learn more about the Wright Brothers through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Wright Brothers

Wilbur and Orville Wright have successful trial of their "flying machine" on 17 Dec 1903 Fri, Dec 18, 1903 – Page 1 · The Piqua Daily Call (Piqua, Ohio) · Newspapers.comWright brothers return home to Dayton after successful flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina Wed, Dec 23, 1903 – 2 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comWright brothers plan to improve their "flying machine" and master "science of aerial navigation" Thu, Dec 24, 1903 – 10 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comA description in Jan 1904 of "what the Wright brothers' invention has accomplished" Sat, Jan 2, 1904 – 11 · The Marion Star (Marion, Ohio) · Newspapers.com3 weeks after Kitty Hawk, Wright brothers declare "age of the flying machine has arrived" Fri, Jan 8, 1904 – Page 8 · The Wilkes-Barre Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comWright Brothers continue developing aeroplane; their work attracts attention from Europe Wed, Mar 7, 1906 – 7 · News-Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) · Newspapers.comWright brothers flying machine bought by French government Sun, May 13, 1906 – Page 59 · St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) · Newspapers.com"Country's Most Prominent Men Pay Homage to Wright Brothers" in June 1909 Thu, Jun 10, 1909 – Page 1 · Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York) · Newspapers.comBiographical sketch of the Wright brothers early life featured in 1909 newspaper Fri, Jun 18, 1909 – Page 2 · The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio) · Newspapers.comOrville Wright plans to makes one hour test flight with passenger in July 1909 Mon, Jul 26, 1909 – 1 · Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) · Newspapers.comPhotos of the "Wright brothers and the aeroplane they are testing at Fort Meyer" in July 1909 Fri, Jul 2, 1909 – Page 1 · The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) · Newspapers.comWright Brothers win injunction against Herring-Curtiss Company in Jan 1910 for patent infringement Tue, Jan 4, 1910 – Page 14 · New-York Tribune (New York, New York) · Newspapers.com"Wilbur Wright Dies After Brave Fight" with typhoid fever, May 1912 Thu, May 30, 1912 – Page 1 · The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.comWilbur Wright known for "stainless" character and "purity and integrity of life" Thu, May 30, 1912 – 4 · The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comUS court of appeals rules Wright brothers were "first men to fly in a heavier than air machine" Wed, Jan 14, 1914 – 3 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comDayton, Ohio, honors Wright Brothers on the 20th anniversary of their first flight Tue, Dec 18, 1923 – 2 · The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comLeaders pay tribute to the Wright Brothers in 1943 Sun, Dec 12, 1943 – 74 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comOrville Wright dies in his sleep in Dayton in 1948 at age 76 Sat, Jan 31, 1948 – 1 · The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) · Newspapers.comLife Story of Orville Wright Sat, Jan 31, 1948 – 8 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comOrville Wright's "Most Embarrassing Moment" Sat, Jan 31, 1948 – 8 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comLeaders pay tribute at Orville Wright's funeral Mon, Feb 2, 1948 – 1 · The Marion Star (Marion, Ohio) · Newspapers.comTerms of Orville Wright's will Fri, Feb 6, 1948 – 22 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comGovernment considering purchasing Orville Wright's home as a museum Fri, Feb 6, 1948 – 1 · The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comWrights' plane the Kitty Hawk to be returned to the U.S. Tue, Feb 10, 1948 – 11 · The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comPlans in 1948 for purchase of Orville Wright's home and creation of new stamp and memorial Tue, Feb 10, 1948 – 11 · The Dayton Herald (Dayton, Ohio) · Newspapers.com