The Lighter-Than-Air Society has a new display of some of the historical items and memorabilia from its collection inside its Workshop in Akron, Ohio.
The initial display’s centerpiece is a model of the internal structure of the USS Akron built in the late 1920’s and used by Dr. Karl Arnstein to help explain the concept of the rigid airship that was built in the Airdock.
Other exhibits include:
- The Hindenburg – a piece of the fabric from the airship’s envelope, artifacts that were used inside the airship, newspapers that covered the crash of the dirigible, etc.
- The Graf Zeppelin and its historic flight around the world (the first by any type of aircraft).
- The USS Shenandoah – pieces of the airship recovered from the crash site, newspaper coverage, etc.
- Artifacts from the U.S. Navy’s airships used during World War II.
- Items from Goodyear blimps.
The display was opened for the first time on April 13, during an open house held at the Bounce Innovation Hub (where the Workshop is located). Over 100 people visited the display that evening, expressing their amazement at the sampling of artifacts the Society owns.
Open House, April 13, 2018.
Photo: © Cindy Slater
Open House, April 13, 2018.
Photo: © Cindy Slater
Open House, April 13, 2018.
Photo: © Jim Maguire
Open House, April 13, 2018.
Photo: © Jim Maguire
Akron is the L-T-A center of the world. More airships have been built in Akron than in any other city in the world.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon
Memorabilia from Goodyear’s first commercial use blimp, the Pilgrim.
© Alvaro Bellon
Graf Zeppelin Memorabilia.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon
Photos of the Graf Zeppelin’s flight around the world (the first such flight by any kind of aircraft) and of its visit to Akron, Ohio.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon
Memorabilia from the Hindenburg including a piece of the crashed airship and a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Extra Edition reporting the tragic accident.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon
Hindenburg memorabilia including photos, a cutaway diagram of the airship and items carried on board the airship.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
A part of a girder and pieces of fabric from the envelope and a gas cell recovered from the Hindenburg crash.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
A model of the Akron Airdock. These were given to Goodyear dealers for display in their stores. The doors open and an airship moves out of the hangar.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
Panels with photos, primarily of airships built in Akron.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
Panels with photos, primarily of airships built in Akron.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
Model of the internal structure of the USS Akron. This model, built in the late 1920’s, was used by Dr. Karl Arnstein to help describe how the airship was built.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
Memorabilia from U.S. Navy airships, including parts of the steering controls.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
A fuel tank from the USS Los Angeles.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
Pieces of the USS Los Angeles recovered after the airship was decommissioned and dismantled.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
An oil tank from the USS Macon.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
Memorabilia, including pieces of the USS Shenandoah, recovered from the crash site in Ava, Ohio.
Photo: © Alvaro Bellon.
The exhibit is available for viewing by appointment only. To request an appointment pleas use the Contact Us form.