National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Wright Brothers National Memorial North Carolina Wright Brothers National Memorial Long-Range Interpretive Plan Cover Photo: First Flight, December 17, 1903, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina * All document photos are credited to NPS unless otherwise noted Wright Brothers National Memorial Long-Range Interpretive Plan Prepared by: Wright Brothers National Memorial Harpers Ferry Center Interpretive Planning Interpretive Solutions, Inc. November 2010 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Contents Introduction 1 Executive Summary 2 Foundation for Planning 4 Legislative Background 4 Purpose 4 Significance 4 Interpretive Themes 6 Management Goals 14 Visitor Experience Goals 17 Visitor Profiles 20 Issues and Influences 30 Existing Conditions 39 Interpretive Staffing 40 Interpretive Facilities 42 Park Museum Collections and Studies 45 Media Conditions 47 Personal Services 53 Park Partners 56 Recommendations 60 Personal Services 60 Education Services 62 Non-Personal Services 65 Partnerships 73 Collections and Archives Needs 74 Research Needs 74 Staffing Needs 74 Implementation Plan 75 Appendices 79 Appendix A: The Planning Team 79 Appendix B: Associated Legislation 80 Appendix C: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park: Interpretive Themes 81 Wright Brothers National Memorial INTRODUCTION The National Park Service The LRIP defines the overall vision (NPS) has adopted a unified and long-term (7-10 year) interpretive planning approach for goals of the park. The process interpretation and education. that develops the LRIP defines This approach combines realistic strategies and actions that planning for interpretive media, work toward achievement of the personal interpretive services, interpretive goals. and education programs. The Comprehensive Interpretive The LRIP consists of two parts. The Plan (CIP) is the basic planning Foundation for Planning articulates document for interpretation the conceptual framework for and was formally adopted as interpretation. It addresses site part of NPS guidelines in 1995. significance, primary interpretive Responsibility for creating themes, desired visitor experiences, the CIP lies with each park’s and target audiences, and describes superintendent. existing conditions at the site. The CIP process helps parks make The second part of the LRIP choices. It provides guidance to addresses recommendations and park staff by clarifying objectives, implementation. It is developed after identifying audiences, and the Foundation for Planning and recommending the best mix of Existing Conditions section have media and personal services to use been reviewed and accepted by site to convey park themes. planners and stakeholders. Together, these elements make up the final Although the CIP as defined Long Range Interpretive Plan. in Director’s Order No. 6 is composed of specific elements, The completed LRIP is a critical good planning is customized part of the CIP, but it does not to meet each park’s needs and stand alone. Actions in the LRIP situation. The CIP is not a recipe. are divided into annual, achievable Rather, it is a guide to effective, steps and reproduced in the AIP, goal-driven planning. While the second component of the CIP. it considers past interpretive Creating a series of these AIPs that programming, it is primarily a implement the actions outlined forward-looking document that in the LRIP simplifies the park’s concentrates on actions needed to annual planning process. The create or sustain a vigorous and third component of the CIP is the effective interpretive program Interpretive Database, an ongoing for the future. All CIPs have compilation of information, three components: the Long reports, bibliographies, plans, and Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP), a inventories that provide background series of Annual Implementation information and document the Plans (AIPs), and an Interpretive process of developing the LRIP. Database. The baseline for this plan is FY2009. The heart of the CIP is the Long Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP). 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Wright Brothers National The following short sections Memorial is located in Kill and bulleted phrases summarize Devil Hills, North Carolina. It this LRIP’s Future Interpretive is administered by the National Program: Park Service Outer Banks Group, which also includes Cape Personal Services Hatteras National Seashore and • Focus interpreter-led Fort Raleigh National Historic programming. Site. The Memorial is the site • Enhance training in certain of the world’s first successful, areas. controlled, manned, heavier- • Re-evaluate presentation of than-air, powered flight, made special events. by Wilbur and Orville Wright on • Develop “Pilots in Residence” December 17, 1903. The mission program. of the park is to commemorate • Expand community outreach. the Wrights’ success on that day and to interpret the continuing Educational Services worldwide significance of their • Develop educational strategy. dream, vision and achievement. • Continue Teacher-Ranger- Teacher Program. This LRIP provides a vision for the • Parks as Classroom. future of interpretation at the park. • Strengthen partnership with The LRIP was created through a NCCAT. collaborative, goal-driven process • Develop offsite offerings. that describes desired visitor • Partner with others. experiences and recommends appropriate means to achieve them Non-Personal Services while protecting and preserving Interpretive Facilities the park’s cultural and natural Improvements resources. • Continue to maintain and interpret from existing facilities The LRIP’s first section confirms Need for new interpretive and the foundations of the park: its administrative/office space. purpose, significance, interpretive themes, visitor profiles, visitor Exhibits experience goals, issues and • Support the Discovery of influences, and existing conditions. Flight Foundation so that they The LRIP’s second section can reach their fundraising recommends actions to be taken goal and donate The Wright over the next five to seven years Experience: Six Challenges of to improve the park’s interpretive Flight interactive exhibit to the services and media, and provides park. an achievable implementation • Continue to use current strategy. interpretive venues for exhibits. • When appropriate, re-evaluate 2 Executive Summary exhibit program in light of commemoration, global impact plans for visitor center annex, and the changing landscape. and the condition of the Publications pavilion. • Continue production of In The Audiovisual/Electronic Media Park park newspaper. • Hire Media/Visual Information • Create two new site bulletins: Specialist. changes to Kitty Hawk and • Develop park-wide Media natural resources. Plan. • Develop all media Partnerships presentations with strategic • Continue to work with existing consideration of future visitor partners and formalize new usage and relevancy. partnerships to develop interpretive services. Park Website/Social Media • Work with Dayton Aviation • Repurpose existing media Heritage National Historical (i.e., print, images, collection Park to create a joint website information, etc.) for website and other interpretive and presentation. educational resources. • Partner with Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Research Needs Park (and possibly Wright • Resources needed to University) to create a Wright document Kitty Hawk life in brothers interpretive website the Wright brothers’ time. that would combine related resources. Staffing • Encourage National Park The following staff additions Service to create an Aviation are recommended for Wright Heritage Program, similar to Brothers National Memorial: existing Civil War, Maritime, • Group Volunteer-in-Parks and Underground Railroad Coordinator. initiatives, under which all • Group Media/Visual aviation-related sites in the Information Specialist. National Park Service would • District Interpreter share a National Park Service- (Supervisory Park Ranger sponsored website. for Wright Brothers National • Develop a series of web-based Memorial and Fort Raleigh interpretive features/resources National Historic Site). and social media that will • Two Park Ranger keep the park relevant both (Interpretation) positions. nationally and locally. • Education Specialist. • Summer seasonal Park Wayside Exhibits Rangers. • Create new wayside exhibits • Teacher-Ranger-Teachers. near the Monument to address 3 FOUNDATION FOR PLANNING LEGISLATIVE attempt in all history at power-driven airplane flight, BACKGROUND achieved by Orville Wright on December 17, 1903 …” The idea for Wright Brothers National Memorial came into Via Executive Order 6166, issued being at a time of strengthening June 10, 1933, responsibility global leadership for the United for administration of the site States in the wake of World War was transferred from the War I. The Wright brothers’ world- Department to the National altering invention symbolized, in Park Service. The site was re- a spectacular manner, American designated as “Wright Brothers confidence, competence, and National Memorial” in 1953. power. By calling attention to the brothers’ feat at the Kill Please note that throughout this Devil Hills, not only would a LRIP, Wright Brothers National memorial honor American vigor Memorial may be referred to and ingenuity, but it offered the as Wright Brothers NMEM, the potential for local economic Memorial, or the site. development. The beauty and value of the Outer Banks was clear at the time, but the area