About the First Flight Society
First Flight Society is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Chartered in 1927, First Flight Society (formerly Kill Devil Hills Memorial Association) initially set about the task of acquiring the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright made their four historic flights in 1903. Since that time, First Flight Society continues to preserve the legacy of the Wright Brothers, educating the public about the historic First Flight of the Wright Brothers, promoting aviation and aviation education, and supporting the National Park Service at Wright Brothers National Memorial.
First Flight Society created the Dr. Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine to annually honor the great accomplishments in the history of aviation. Dr. Paul Garber was the first curator of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. Each December 17th, the Paul E. Garber Shrine inductee is honored and their portrait is added to the Shrine that is located at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Visitor Center.