The Zeppelin Museum

Lake Constance (aka the Bodensee) is Zeppelin country. Konstanz (Constance) native son Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin was instrumental in the development of the rigid airships which bear his name. His first design, the LZ 1 or Luftschiff Zeppelin 1, was launched in 1900 over lake Constance near the town of Friedrichshafen. Today Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin Museum and Archive.

The first gallery of the museum is devoted to the Hindenburg. The Hindenburg became infamous due to its unfortunate demise in Lakehurst NJ in 1937, ending the era of airship travel. However, this giant Airship was really an engineering marvey with a dining room, observation deck, and individual state rooms. The Hindenburg truly was a luxury ‘Air-Ship’. The museum has recreated a section of the Hindenburg with a boarding ladder to the lounge, observation deck, and cabins.

Size comparison of the Hindenburg, which measured 803 feet,
and a modern zeppelin, 747 Airplane and the Queen Mary

In addition to exhibition rooms devoted to the history of lighter than air flight, the primary focus of the museum is devoted to Zeppelin artifacts, construction techniques, and memorabilia.

I love the collection of rivet tools

I could have spent many hours here, and could quite easily ramble on regarding the history of lighter than air flying machines, but there is more to come in the next post…..