Near Byesville in Guernsey County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wreck of the Shenandoah
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 23, 2008
1. Wreck of the Shenandoah Marker
“Wind increasing in volume. Get no chance to....” These were the last words from the doomed Navy airship Shenandoah, caught in a violent storm and crashing 7 miles southwest of this spot near Ava at dawn, September 3, 1925. Fourteen of its crew were killed. While souvenir hunters stripped the wreckage, a nation questioned the value of huge, rigid dirigibles, the last crashing in 1935. Smaller blimps replaced the dirigible as America's lighter-than-air sentinels of the sky.
Erected 1969 by The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 1-30.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1878.
Location. 39° 56.461′ N, 81° 31.937′ W. Marker is near Byesville, Ohio, in Guernsey County. Marker is on Interstate 77, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the grounds of both the Ohio Department of Transportation rest areas near Byesville. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Byesville OH 43723, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Eisenhower Interstate System (a few steps from this marker); a different marker
this page online
More about this marker. Marker number reads 1-1 but convention is now by county alphabetically, then chronologically by date of placement. Guernsey County is the thirtieth in alphabetical order, hence is actually 1-30.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This marker has additional photographs of the wreck.
Also see . . .
1. Shenandoah Airship Disaster. Roadside America website entry:
The site became somewhat a tourist attraction over the years. "A Zeppelin crash site, like an elephant execution site, is something worth visiting, and the folks in Noble County have provided several locations where the modern traveler can ponder the calamity-prone sky whales of yesteryear." (Submitted on December 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 13, 2008
2. Wreck of the Shenandoah Marker
Rest Area buildings in background.
2. USS Shenandoah's Last Flight. HistoryNet website entry (Submitted on November 25, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
3. USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
Flying in the vicinity of New York City, circa 1923.
(From the U.S. Naval Historical Center, Photo #: NH 51492)
(From the U.S. Naval Historical Center, Photo #: NH 51492)
4. Wreck of the Shenandoah
Wreckage of the airship surrounded by cars, recovery crews, and onlookers.
(U.S. Naval Historical Center, Photo #: NH 98997)
(U.S. Naval Historical Center, Photo #: NH 98997)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,307 times since then and 77 times this year. Last updated on November 25, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1. submitted on February 9, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on December 14, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3, 4. submitted on December 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.
