On this 84-acre meadow in 1904 and 1905, the Wright Brothers successfully mastered the mechanics of controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flight. The brothers also built the world’s first airport here, and in 1910 the Wright Company School of Aviation established a flying school on the site and trained many of the world’s first pilots, including some of the first military pilots, such as Thomas DeWitt Milling.
1904
![Holt Track-Type Tractor](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/2018-04/Holt_prototype_track-type_tractor_1905.jpg?itok=Z8jH6a98)
![Huffman Prairie](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/2018-03/1904WrightFlyer.jpg?itok=dLExpnmG)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/landmarks/images/Alexanderson_Radio_Alternator.jpg?itok=pBlAbzSh)
![Peterborough Hydraulic (Canal) Lift Lock](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/landmarks/images/Peterborough_Hydraulic_Canal_Lift_Lock.jpg?itok=b-EVqNbK)
Opened July 9, 1904, this lift lock is the highest of its type in the world, transferring boats between two water levels in a single 19.8 m (65 ft.) lift. Designed in place of conventional locks, which would have lengthed the time considerably to transverse a gradual drop, this lift lock was a unique solution made feasible. It operates on a balance principle. Each boat chamber is supported by a ram, 2.28 m (7.5 ft.) In diameter. These move up and down inside water-filled cylinders connected by a pipe.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/landmarks/images/IRT.jpg?itok=msOXTwNb)
Innovations
![](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/landmarks/images/IRT.jpg?itok=ugbI_fyf)
![Peterborough Hydraulic (Canal) Lift Lock](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/landmarks/images/Peterborough_Hydraulic_Canal_Lift_Lock.jpg?itok=OtVEIP81)
Opened July 9, 1904, this lift lock is the highest of its type in the world, transferring boats between two water levels in a single 19.8 m (65 ft.) lift. Designed in place of conventional locks, which would have lengthed the time considerably to transverse a gradual drop, this lift lock was a…
Read More![](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/landmarks/images/Alexanderson_Radio_Alternator.jpg?itok=WhAjRNBL)
![Huffman Prairie](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2018-03/1904WrightFlyer.jpg?itok=9nTdWbE2)
On this 84-acre meadow in 1904 and 1905, the Wright Brothers successfully mastered the mechanics of controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flight. The brothers also built the world’s first airport here, and in 1910 the Wright Company School of Aviation established a flying school on…
Read More