The Wright Brothers

On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio—Wilbur and Orville Wright—achieved the first powered flight with a pilot, changing history. Though the world took time to recognize the significance of this accomplishment, the brothers possessed exceptional courage, determination, and wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. Wilbur was a genius, while Orville demonstrated remarkable mechanical ingenuity. Despite having only a public high school education and limited financial resources, they pursued their mission to fly, undeterred even by the constant risk of death. David McCullough draws on extensive Wright family papers to tell the story of how these two Ohio brothers taught the world to fly. The account profiles not only Wilbur and Orville but also their sister, Katharine, whose role proved significant to their success. McCullough examines what the brothers accomplished and the circumstances that enabled them to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.