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Wright Brother's Day

Take flight this Wright Brother's Day and honor the inventors of the airplane - remember Orville and Wilbur with a special celebration!

Thursday

December 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEDecember 17

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYCulture

SUBCATEGORYFamous People

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Celebrate Wright Brother's Day on December 17 with pride and admiration for the accomplishments of two great inventors! This day commemorates Orville and Wilbur Wright, who created the world's first successful airplane in 1903. Since then, aviation has gone from strength to strength, revolutionizing transportation across the globe. It is a day to celebrate human innovation and progress that makes life easier for us all.

TIMELINE

Wright Brother's Day Timeline

Birth of the Wright Brothers

Wilbur Wright was born near Millville, Indiana in 1867, and his brother, Orville, was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1871.

First Glider Tests

The Wright brothers tested their first glider at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, making about a dozen free flights.

Successful Powered Flight

The Wright brothers made the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight with their aircraft, the Flyer, on December 17th.

Forming of the Wright Company

The Wright Company was formed, with Wilbur serving as president and Orville as vice president.

First Celebration of Wright Brothers Day

Wright Brothers Day was first observed in the United States after a proclamation by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Inclusion in Public Law

Public Law 85-928 declared December 17th as Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first successful flight of a mechanically propelled heavier-than-air machine.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate Wright Brother's Day

Fly a kite

Kites were the inspiration for the Wright Brothers' invention of the airplane. Celebrate Wright Brother's Day by flying your own kite or building one with your children.

VISIT

Visit an aviation museum

Take a trip to a local aviation museum and explore the history of flight. You can learn about the Wright Brothers, the other early pioneers of aviation, and modern day air travel.

READ

Read a book about the Wright Brothers

There are many books written about Orville and Wilbur Wright, the inventors of the first successful airplane. Reading one of these books is a great way to celebrate their achievements.

WATCH

Watch a documentary about the Wright Brothers

For a more hands on experience, watch a documentary about the Wright Brothers and see how their invention changed the world. There are many great documentaries available online.

Go on a plane ride

The best way to celebrate Wright Brother's Day is to go on a plane ride and appreciate how far aviation technology has come since 1903. Take in all that modern day flight has to offer.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love Wright Brother's Day

The Wright Brother's invention is still being used today

Over one hundred years later, airplanes are synonymous with modern travel. Planes have enabled us to explore the world and connect distant parts of it like never before. We owe much of this progress to the achievements of Wilbur and Orville Wright!

The Wright Brothers changed aviation

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made history when they became the first people to successfully fly an airplane. This ushered in a new era of transportation, with the world now able to move faster than ever before!

The Wright Brothers were self-taught innovators

Wilbur and Orville had no formal training in engineering or aeronautics, yet they managed to create something that would revolutionize the world. Their success was due, in part, to their innate curiosity for exploration and problem solving.

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