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. Excerpted from What Was the Hindenburg? by Janet Pascal All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
