What Was the Hindenburg?

At 800-feet long, the Hindenburg was the largest airship ever built--just slightly smaller than the Titanic! Also of a disastrous end, the zeppelin burst into flame as spectators watched it attempt to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937. In under a minute, the Hindenburg was gone, people jumping from windows to escape. However, only 62 of the 97 crew members and passengers onboard survived. The exact cause of the disaster is still unknown and remains a fascinating historical mystery perfect for this series.Janet B. Pascal is an Executive Production Editor at Viking Children's Books and the author of What Is the Panama Canal?, Who Was Dr. Seuss?, Who Was Maurice Sendak?, and Who Was Abraham Lincoln?

What Was the Hindenburg?

On Thursday, May 6, 1937, a crowd gathered in Lakehurst, New Jersey. They were there to watch the airship Hindenburg land. Although the ship had arrived in Lakehurst several times before, it was still a thrilling sight. The Hindenburg was the first flying ship ever to carry passengers over the Atlantic Ocean to America.

A little while before 7:00 p.m., the Hindenburg appeared. It was a kind of ship called a zeppelin. This is a large balloon on a hard frame, filled with a gas that is lighter than air. It floats through the sky like a helium balloon. To hold enough gas to stay up, zeppelins had to be huge. The Hindenburg was almost a sixth of a mile long. It was shaped like a tube with rounded ends. Its surface was a shining silver. Despite its size, it floated lightly and quietly through the air, as much at home as a fish in water. As it began to sink gently toward the airfield, it was a beautiful sight.