KDH Lifesaving Station Artifacts

History Photos - Click on the Photos to Enlarge

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  Wilbur and Orville Wright

   

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  Letter from Wright Brothers to Margaret Hollowell

  Original letter from the Wright Brothers, dated August 17, 1909, stating that they do not want to sell their shed at Kill Devil Hills for the time being as they had not yet determined if they would have further use for it.

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  Letter from Orville Wright's secretary, Mabel Beck, to Margaret Hollowell

  The Wright Brothers came across a box that contained glider and aeroplane parts, which Margaret had sent to Orville for identification. This letter, dated December 15, 1937, was written to confirm Margaret's current address so the items could be returned to her.

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  Letter from Orville Wright to Margaret Hollowell

  This letter, dated December 27, 1937, was written to Margaret Hollowell describing the materials he was returning that were sent to him in 1928 for identification. He explains how they were used on the Wright Brothers' gliders and flying machines.

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  Original Envelope

  Dated December 16, 1937 from Orville Wright to Margaret Hollowell.

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  Original Envelope

  Dated December 27, 1937 from Orville Wright to Margaret Hollowell.

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  Original Paper Targets

  Made in May, 1908 for target practice. Wilbur, Charles Furnas, and Orville made the targets and initialed each hit.

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  Close-up of Original Paper Targets

  You can see the details on the paper targets made in 1908. The initials W, C, and O on the paper targets indicate Wilbur, Charles Furnas, and Orville.

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  Small Pieces of the "Kitty Hawk" Plane

  These original pieces are from parts broken when the "Kitty Hawk" plane, while resting on the ground, was overturned by the wind after the fourth flight on December 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills. In addition, there is a note written personally by Orville Wright.

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  Letter from Orville Wright Describing Two Pieces from the "Kitty Hawk" Plane

  Note written by Orville Wright presenting two small pieces of the "Kitty Hawk" (which flew at Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 1903) as a token of his appreciation for the courtesy of the person who surrendered a piece of the 1905 plane. Orville also says that he authenticates these two pieces as genuine parts of their original "Kitty Hawk" plane.

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  The Day Before the First Flight

  The Wright Brothers at Kill Devil Hills the day before the discovery of flight in 1903.

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  Wright Brothers Glider Flight

  1909-1911. Photograph by Van Ness Harwood.

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  Charles Furnas Obituary Announcement

  This is a newspaper clipping announcing that Charles Furnas, who was the first airplane passenger, had passed away at age 61. He never learned to fly a plane himself and he never rode in a plane after his first epochal flights with the Wright Brothers in 1903. Mr. Furnas was a mechanic in the bicycle shop of the Wright Brothers when they made their historic flights at Kitty Hawk, NC.

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  Letter Signed by Witnesses of the First Flight in 1903

  Signed on November 4, 1928 by W.S. Dough, A.D. Etheridge and John Moore, who were the only persons living that were present on December 17th 1903 when Orville Wright made that first flight, except J.T. Daniels (who resided in Edenton, N.C.) who it was impossible to have present at the time, and Orville Wright himself.

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  "Flying" Paper

  Newspaper clipping pointing out The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company's Achievements in the 1900's. The four main achievements were as follows: the FIRST American-built battle plane was turned out by this company, the first planes this country sent to France were made in and shipped from their factory in Dayton, they shipped over 80% of all the American-built battle planes that ever reached the Front and, lastly, The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. produced more planes per day than any other plant in the world!

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  "Flying" Paper - December, 1918

  Newspaper clipping showing illustrations of signaling in the old days as well as an Observation post of Civil War times.

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  "Flying" Paper - February 1919

  Illustrated newspaper clipping from "Flying". Shows the first train load of American Planes to arrive "Over There" on May 13, 1918, all D.H. 4's from The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. plant. Second illustration shows the assembling of the first Fuselage, May 16,1918. The third illustration shows a train load of their planes after unloading in France. The last illustration shows Captain Osborn about to fly the first plane on May 17, 1918.

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  "Flying" Paper

  Illustrates the progress that The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. achieved. The illustrations show the first heavier than air machine produced by the Wright Brothers in 1903 as well as the Modern Battle Plane produced in 1918.

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  Wright Brothers First Flight

  The first manned flight at Kill Devil Hills in 1903 was photographed by Surfman John T. Daniels of the USLSS. It was dubbed the "Photograph of the Century."

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  Wilbur Wright's Flyer

  New York City, October 1909. The top photo is of The Wright Flyer and Wilbur Wright. The middle photo is Wilbur Wright inaugurating aerial navigation on the Hudson River at the Hudson-Fulton Celebration on October 4, 1909 by flying his aeroplane from Governor's Island to Grant's Tomb and back, a distance of 19 miles in 33 minutes and 33 seconds. This was a phenomenal achievement at that time. The last photo is of Wilbur Wright taking a practice flight over Governor's Island in New York Harbor during the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. The canoe was carried as a safeguard against water accidents.

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  Photo of Orville Wright and Neil A. Armstrong

  Photo collage featuring a shot of the first man-powered flight on December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, NC Orville Wright and Neil A. Armstrong.

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  At work in their bicycle shop - Dayton, Ohio, 1901.

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  Camp set-up in the Kitty Hawk Inn.

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  Problems in Dayton - Summer, 1908

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  France's King Alphonso and Wilbur - France, 1909

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  Sister Katherine with Wilbur - Summer, 1905

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  Meeting with France's King Alphonso - France, 1909

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  Wilbur in France - September 5, 1908

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  Wright Brothers Photograph

  Flying over horse carriages - France, 1908

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  Aviation History Continues

  Wright Brothers circa 1909

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  Aviation History Continues

  Wright Brothers circa 1909

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  Petition presented to the Commissioner of Patents

  This is a copy of the original petition requesting the Grant of Letters Patent grant a patent for alleged new and useful improvement in Flying Machines.

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  Certificate of Authenticity and Original Flag

  This flag flew over the Birthplace of Flight, The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, on December 17, 1992 for the 89th Anniversary of Man's First Powered Flights by Wilbur and Orville Wright. Also shown is the certificate of authenticity.

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  First Day of Issue - U.S. Air Mail Stamps

  Air Mail Series, 1971-1973

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  Painting by Craig Kodera

  Man's First Powered Flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright, December 17, 1903, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

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  An Opportunity You Will Never Have Again

  Newspaper ad from the 1930's by the developers of Kitty Hawk Beach, Wright Memorial Bridge Company. Oceanfront lots 50-feet wide for as far as the eye could see sold at an amazingly low price of $250 with 2 years to pay at that time.

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  The Village of Corolla in the Early 1930's

   

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  Original Sign on the original Kill Devil Hills U.S. Life Saving Station, circa 1878.

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  U.S. Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station

  History of the original U.S. Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station.

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  U.S. Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station

  History of the original U.S. Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station.

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  Saving the Kill Devil Hills Station, 1986.

  This panel gives the history of the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station, its relocation to Corolla, and its restoration by Sunrise Investments Company. This is a page out of the Coastland Times newspaper.

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  S.I. Kimball

  Founder and General Superintendent of Life Saving Service, 1871-1915.

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  Pulley

   

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  Fishing Net

   

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  U.S. Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station

  Photo of the original U.S. Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station and its crewmen.

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  Original Spiral Stairs

  Located in the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station which serves as Twiddy & Company Realtors' sales office today.

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  Original Steps

  Located in the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station which serves as Twiddy & Company Realtors' sales office today.

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  Historic Artwork

  Collected over the years.

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  Communication Flags

  These flags were used on the ships by the US Coast Guard to communicate with other ships.

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  Lantern

  Displayed next to original furniture and communication flags that were collected over the years.

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  Communication Flags

   

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  Shelf within the original chimney base of the KDH Life Saving Station

   

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  Surfmen

  Pulling exhausted survivors from the wreck of the "Covent Garden."

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  Wreck of the "Huron"

  Nags Head, NC, 1877; 103 lives lost.

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  Wreck of the "Huron"

  Nags Head, NC, 1877; 103 lives lost.

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  An Original Editorial Cartoon Drawn by Thomas Nast

  Featured in the Harper's Weekly on December 29, 1877. Caption reads: Death on Economy. U.S. - "I suppose I must spend a little on Life-saving Service, Life-boat Stations, Life-Boats, Surf-Boats, etc.; but it is too bad to be obliged to waste so much money." This cartoon was instrumental in creating a public outcry over the 1877 wreck of the Huron at Nags Head. This outcry nudged Congress to enact legislation to properly fund the U.S.L.S.S.

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  Original Cloth Photograph of Jacob Nickles

  US Navy Seaman who was aboard the ill-fated USS Monitor when it sunk on December 31, 1862. There were no survivors.

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  "Launching a Lifeboat"

  Rushing to another shipwreck off the Outer Banks.

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  Original 13 Foot Life Boat Oar

  This original 13 foot life boat oar, stamped USLSS, was found under the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station in 1986 when it was relocated to Corolla.

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  Surfboat Oar Locks

   

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  Wreck of the Metropolis

  The Wreck of the Metropolis, which occurred in Corolla in the year 1878, brought a public cry for government-funded maritime wreck assistance and led to support for the U.S. Life Saving Service.

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  A Breeches Buoy

  A maritime rescue device similar to a life ring fitted with shorts. It is attached to a line overhead by a Hawser that runs from the shore to a wrecked vessel. The line is shot to the ship with a Lyle Gun and tied to the ship's mast, allowing the seaman to board the vessel and retrieve victims.

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  Rescue by Breeches Buoy

   

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  An Original Breeches Buoy

   

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  U.S.L.S.S. Surfman

  Testing a Breeches Buoy

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  Original Faking Box

  A faking box is a container used to coil a projectile rope in a zigzag or figure eight form to prevent its twisting when it runs out behind the projectile.

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  Original Rope from inside a Faking Box

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  Lyle Gun

  A short-barreled cannon designed to fire a projectile attached to a rope to boat victims in distress. Most guns used a black powder charge that could launch an iron projectile more than 1000 feet. Named for inventor David A. Lyle (1845-1937).

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  Original 1894 Lyle Gun

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  U.S.L.S.S. Powder Flask for the Lyle Gun

   

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  Projectile for Lyle Gun

   

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  Brass Friction Primer(s) for Firing the Lyle Gun

  Brass "prick" device used by the Station Keeper to puncture the cartridge that fired the Lyle Gun.

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  Surfmen on the Beach Holding up Coston Flairs

  Surfmen held up Coston Flairs on the shore to warn the ships of the treacherous coast.

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  Original Coston Flair Container

  Used for life boats and rafts.

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  Wreck Lantern

   

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  Original U.S.L.S.S. Barometer

   

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  Original U.S.L.S.S. Barometer in Wooden Case

   

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  "Semaphore"

  This telegraph key was found by Cecil A. Field in the attic of the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station when it was dismantled at Kill Devil Hills for relocation to its current location in Corolla.

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  Maritime Harpoon

   

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  Wage Receipt

  This receipt for wages shows that a U.S.L.S.S. surfman at Kill Devil Hills Station drew $2.10 for a day's work in 1901.

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  Original Maintenance Container

  Maintenance and care of tools, machinery, vehicles and equipment at the Life Saving Stations of the Outer Banks were severely tested by extreme weather conditions. Oil, water, battery filler and other fluids were brought over from the mainland and stored at each of the many stations along the barrier islands.

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  Original Brass Spittoon

  Came from the Nags Head Life Saving Station.

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  Tally Board #1

  Directions attached to the line shot from the Lyle Gun.

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  Time Keeper

  This mechanical device was an instrument used to punch tickets carried by Life Saving surfmen on their walks along the beach to look for wrecks. The ticket puncher recorded their "IN" and "OUT" times.

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  Magnetic Dipping Needle

  With instructions still intact.

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  U.S. Life-Saving Station Instructions to Mariners

  In case of a shipwreck.

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  Flair Gun

   

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  US Navy Iron Bell

   

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  Old Compass

   

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  Sighting Glass

   

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  Original U.S.L.S.S. Oil Can for a Horse-Drawn Beach Cart

  Surfmen were brought oil cans for their lanterns via horse-drawn beach carts, which were used to get all the equipment up and down the beach.

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  Original Brass Horn

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - Itemized Returns

  Log books, Payroll Vouchers, List of Vessels and Annual Reports are just some of the meticulous records kept by the Life Saving Service. As a government agency, accountability for time, money and service was a priority. These rare and valuable records allow historians to interpret the culture and peer into the daily lives of those who lived on the Outer Banks in the late 19th and early 20th century.

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  Original Inventory of 1832 Property Returns - U.S.L.S.S.

   

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - Annual Reports

  Annual Reports kept by the Life Saving Service.

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  Telescope and U.S.L.S.S. Documents - 1891 & 1893 Annual Reports

  A telescope and Annual Reports kept by the Life Saving Service.

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - Payroll of Officers and Enlisted Force of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters

  Payroll of Officers and Enlisted Force kept by the Life Saving Service.

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - Payroll of Officers & Enlisted Force of the U.S. Coast Guard for the Month of September, 1918

  This is an original payroll.

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - 1901 Payroll Sheets

  Copies of the 1901 payroll sheets.

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - U.S. Coast Guard Annual Reports - 1900's

  U.S. Coast Guard Annual Reports kept by the Life Saving Service.

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - Services of Crews

  Services of Crews records kept by the Life Saving Service.

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  U.S.L.S.S. Documents - 1902 Signalbook and 1800's Reports

  Signalbook from 1902 and Annual Reports from the 1800's kept by the Life Saving Service.

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  Honorable Discharge for William Henry Bowden

  This is an honorable discharge from the United States Coast Guard to certify that William Henry Bowden is honorably Discharged from the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station the 14th day of May, 1940. He served for many years at Wash Woods U.S. Coast Guard Station situated on the 4x4 beaches north of Corolla, as well.

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  Flair Canister

  U.S.L.S.S. 1874-1915

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  Gold Medal Replica

  This is a replica of the gold medal that the United States Life Saving Service awarded for life saving acts.

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  Public Instrument of Protest

  Letter of protest written to the British Vice Consulate in 1874.

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  Steamer "Metis" Lost

  The "Metis" was a passenger carrier that was lost off Watch Hill on August 31, 1872 after a collision with the schooner "Nettie Cushing". The announcement goes on to explain that of 110 passengers and 45 crew on "Metis", approximately 70, were lost. The announcement was from Neptune Line, Providence & N.Y. Steamship Co.

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  Officer's Sword

  United States Coast Guard, 1920

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  Items Salvaged from the Wreck of a World War II German Submarine U-352

  These items were salvaged from the wreck of the WW2 German Submarine U-352 off the coast of North Carolina. The U-352 was sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter "Icarus" on May 9, 1942.

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  German Submariner's Jacket

  From World War II

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  German Submariner's Hat

  From World War II

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  U.S. Coast Guard Identification Tag from Corolla

  This is an identification for a telegraph telephone company.

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  U.S. Coast Guard Identification Tag from Wash Woods U.S. Coast Guard Station

  This is an identification for a telegraph telephone company.

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  Life Saving Station Architecture

  This was the type of station built in the 1870's and '80's.

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  United States Life Saving Service Clock

  Made between 1874 - 1915.

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  Ship Pulley

  U.S.L.S.S. 1874-1915

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  Lumber - Railroad Tie

  To U.S. Coast Guard for Wash Woods Station

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  Sherriff Badge

  For Currituck County Sherriff, Griggs O'Neil

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  Revenue Cutter Service

  The Revenue Cutter Service was the precursor to the US Coast Guard.

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  The Illustrated London News

  Photo showing a new system of lowering and detaching ships' boats.

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  The Illustrated London News

  Photo showing a storm in 1800's.

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  Harper's Weekly Newspaper Illustration of the Perils of the Coast - "The Life-Saving Service"

  Drawn by M.J. Burns. Illustration includes a patrolman's signal during discovery of a wreck, firing of the wreck-gun, as well as the surfmen heading off to a wreck to help.

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  Original Fabric from Curtiss NC-4

  The Curtiss NC-4 was the first airplane to complete a trans-Atlantic flight. On May 27, 1919, the flying boat set down on the water of the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal. The 4000-mile flight from Rockaway Beach, New York, was accomplished in nineteen days. The NC-4 is part of the collection at the National Air and Space Museum and is currently on loan to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.

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  Original Fabric from De Havilland DH-4

  The Dayton Wright DH-4 "Liberty Plane" was the most important combat plane built in the United States during World War I. Powered by the native 400 horsepower Liberty engine, the DH-4 proved to be an able bombing and observation plane in France. When the war ended, some 196 DH-4's were in front-line service with the American Air Service. The DH-4 in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum is the first of 3106 built in the United States by the Dayton Wright Airplane Company; it was used as a prototype and as a test vehicle for more than 1,000 flying hours.

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  Original Fabric from Albatros D.Va No. 7161/17

  The Albatros D.Va was a formidable German fighter which appeared in combat during World War I in the fall of 1917. Only two aircraft of this type survive today. Restored in its original markings of Jasta 46, the Albatros D.Va, No. 7161/17 is part of the collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

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  Original Fabric from Bleriot XI

  On July 25, 1909 Louis Bleriot flew the English Channel in a frail monoplane powered by a three cylinder Anzani engine that reached a maximum of 25-30 horsepower. Over the next five years hundreds of copies of the Bleriot 11 were produced, making it one of the most popular aircraft of the pre-World War I era. The Bleriot 11 in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum was built in 1914. Fitted with a Gnome Sigma engine, the machine was flown by Swiss exhibition pilot John Domenjoz in Europe and the United States.

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  Original Fabric from Fokker D-VII "U.10"

  The Fokker D-VII was an outstanding German fighter used during the final months of World War I. On November 9, 1918, the "U.10" landed on a forward Allied airfield east of Verdun, France, and was captured by Capt. Alex H. McLanahan, Lt. Edward P. Curtis, and Lt. Sumner Sewall, pilots of the American First Pursuit Group. The "U.10" is now a part of the Collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

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  Original Fabric from Fokker T-2

  The Fokker T-2 made the first nonstop U.S. transcontinental flight on May 2 and 3, 1923. It covered the 2470 miles from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York to Rockwell Field in San Diego, California in 26 hours, 50 minutes and 38 seconds. The Fokker T-2 is now a part of the Collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

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  Original Fabric from Douglas World Cruiser #2 "Chicago"

  The "Chicago" was the flag plane of the first round-the-world flight. In the company of three similar aircraft, it departed from Seattle, Washington on April 6, 1924, returning September 28, 1924, after covering 26,345 miles in a total flying time of 363 hours and 7 minutes. The "Chicago" is now a part of the Collection of the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution.

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  Original Fabric from Lockheed Vega 5B

  This Lockheed Vega 5B was the aircraft used by Amelia Earhart when she became the first woman to make a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic on May 20-21, 1932. Miss Earhart made the 3260 kilometer (2026 mile) flight from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland to Culmore, Londonderry in Northern Ireland in 14 hours 54 minutes. On August 24-25, 1932 in the same Vega, Miss Earhart flew from Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey covering the 3940 kilometers (2448 miles) in 19 hours 5 minutes. This was the first solo nonstop transcontinental flight by a woman. The Lockheed Vega is now a part of the collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

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  Original Fabric from Wright Ex "Vin Fiz"

  The "Vin Fiz" made the first U.S. transcontinental flight in 1911 taking off from Long Island, New York on September 17 and landing in Pasadena, California in November. Pilot Calbraith Perry Rodgers covered the 6953 kilometers (4321 miles) in 82 hours and 2 minutes flying time at an average speed of 84 kilometers per hour (52 miles per hour) with seventy landings en route. The "Vin Fiz" is part of the Collection of the National Air and Space Museum.