The Hindenburg Flew Over Atlantic City, NJ Before Fatal NJ Crash

On the same day that the Hindenburg fiery crash disaster occurred in Manchester Township, New Jersey … The Hindenburg airship flew right over Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Some fascinating details are preserved from May 6, 1937 and it is contained within the records of the Atlantic City Heritage Collections archives at the Atlantic City Free Public Library.

The official Atlantic City records describe an iconic photo taken by Atlantic City firefighter Franklin Hewitt, who climbed on a firehouse rooftop, located at Connecticut and Atlantic Avenues and took the photograph above of the behemoth 804-foot German zeppelin.

Just a short time later, on May 6, 2024, The Hindenburg plummeted to the ground in a fiery crash with 97 passengers and crew members on board.

36 people died in the airship crash.

This is another example of how many historic things have touched Atlantic City.

In 1937, you weren’t considered to be a major entertainment star until you posted the world famous Steel Pier.

The Hindenburg flying over Atlantic City in 1937 would not be a surprise, as Atlantic City and The Steel Pier was iconic the world over.

Wikipedia displays the following about Atlantic City, New Jersey from 1935-1938:

From 1935 through 1938, the Steel Pier was where Miss America was crowned. It was described as "An Amusement City at Sea" and "A Vacation in Itself." It also was once called the "Showplace of the Nation" and included such acts as the High Diving horse; Rex the Wonder Dog, the Human Cannonball, a water-skiing canine in the 1930s; the diving bell; and musicians, including Frank Sinatra and Al Jolson, among others.

SOURCES: Atlantic City Heritage Collections archives at the Atlantic City Free Public Library & Wikipedia.