The LOC.GOV Wise Guide : Icarus Unbound

Since at least as far back as the ancient Greeks, humans have yearned to fly. The tale from mythology of Icarus, who fell to his death because his wax wings melted when he flew too near the sun, represents this longing and mans inability to conquer the forces of gravity.

Photograph of the Wright Brothers first flight, 1903

One hundred years ago this year, on Dec. 17, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio Orville and Wilbur Wright, made the worlds first powered, sustained and controlled flight in their heavier-than-air flying machine. To celebrate the centennial of flight, the Library has mounted a special display as part of its American Treasures exhibition. The Dream of Flight, which includes the diary of Orville Wright, will be on view in the Librarys Jefferson Building until April 24, 2004. But if you cant come to Washington, you can view the exhibition online at www.loc.gov/exhibits. There youll see Orville Wrights diary, including the Dec. 17 entry.

If you want to see more materials related to the Wrights, go to the The Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers, which documents the brothers lives and highlights their pioneering work. Included is the famous glass-plate negative of the "First Flight" at Kitty Hawk.

Still want more? Go to the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog search page and type in either Orville Wright or Wilbur Wright. Youll get more than 350 relevant items. You can also search on flight. Youll get links to such historic photos as one with flying pioneer Charles Lindbergh and Calvin Coolidge, or an image of the flight deck of the space shuttle Columbia.

A. Photograph of the Wright Brothers first flight, 1903, print by Mabel Beck. Prints and Photographs Division.

B. Orville Wright, Diary, Dec. 17, 1903. Manuscript Division.