The Hindenburg was HOW big??

In May of 1936, the Graf Zeppelin Hindenburg, the pride of Nazi Germany, made it’s first trans-Atlantic crossing. It took took two-and-a-half days and that was a huge deal because the fastest ocean liners of the time took four or five days to make the same crossing. 

And speaking of “huge”, I was just sent a couple of pieces of artwork that absolutely stunned me. I knew the damn thing was big, but really had no idea just how big it really was.

Here’s how the Hindenburg compared in size to the entire U.S. Capitol building in Washington. 

Here’s another shocker. This illustration compares the German airship in size with the Boeing 747. 

At any rate, with that record-setting trans-Atlantic crossing, it certainly appeared as though the Age of the Zeppelin had arrived. However, just one year later, while docking at Lakehurst, New Jersey, the Hindenburg suddenly burst into flames. 

As I’m sure you probably know, that huge space was filled with highly flammable hydrogen gas and, in hindsight, it’s awfully clear that it was just a question of time before such a catastrophe occurred.

Of the 96 people aboard, passengers and crew, there were 36 fatalities and, along with the flaming wreckage, the era of the zeppelin also came crashing down.