ZR-1 was named for a river formed by the junction of its north and south forks in Warren County, Virgnia. It flows northeast some 55 miles, crosses the northeastern lip of West Virginia, and empties into the Potomac at Harpers Ferry, W. Va. The Shenandoah Valley, the valley through which that river runs, was known as the breadbasket of the Confederacy during the Civil War and was seen as a backdoor for Confederate raids on Maryland, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Because of its strategic importance it was the scene of three major campaigns (1862 and 1864).

Two previous US warships had borne the name:

1. A screw sloop-of-war.
2. A District Harbor Tug that bore the name between 1920 and 1923.

A Confederate ship had also borne the name:

1. A commerce raider.

Image NS02990145: "Moonlight on the Shenandoah," engraving by J.D. Woodward, printed in the The Aldine magazine, vol. VI, No. 7, July 1873. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Official U.S. Navy photo of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1).

Lee Corbin comments: "[I believe this photo was] taken at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia where the Shenandoah's structure was fabricated prior to shipment to Lakehurst for assembly."

Library of Congress photo, call number: LC-B2- 5968-8, record URL: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006011146/. Bain Collection.

View of the interior of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), while she was under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1922–1923.

View looks aft along Shenandoah's keel, showing her midships frames in place. Those at her bow and stern have not yet been erected, but supports for some of the missing frames are visible in the foreground.

Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 82263).

Construction of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 28 November 1922. Installed gasoline tanks are shown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-441994.

Construction of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 30 December 1922. Looking forward.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-441987.

Construction of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 15 January 1923. Installing outer covering.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-441990.

Construction of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 30 January 1923. Looking forward.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-441986.

The future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923. Note platforms at left used for erecting her horizontal tail fins.

Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 82256).

The future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923. This view looks aft, with her nose structure in the lower right. Note the jig on the hangar floor, lower left, used for the assembly of the airship's frames.

Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 82262).

The future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923. This view was taken from the hangar floor, looking forward and to port from off Shenandoah's starboard quarter. Note the wooden scaffolding used to support her hull and to provide working platforms.

Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98224).

View of the interior of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), showing tanks for her gasoline fuel. Taken while she was under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923. Note weight and capacity (113 gallons) markings on the fuel tanks, details of her aluminum structure, and the narrow (10" wide) catwalk used for crew movement inside the airship's hull.

Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 82264).

The future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) undergoing work in Hangar One NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey. Handwritten comment on the bottom of the image reads "General View Showing Arrangement Of Gas Cells-Fuel And Framework".

National Naval Aviation Museum (photo # 1999.060.073).

Construction of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 29 May 1923. General view from stern.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo # 80-G-441988.

Construction of the future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 29 June 1923. Nose view.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo # 80-G-441993.

The future USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) newly completed, in a photo dated 25 August 1923.

Library of Congress photo, call number: LC-B2- 6052-2. Bain Collection.

Bow section of Shenandoah (ZR-1), showing engine cars.

Library of Congress photo, call number: LC-B2- 6052-4. Bain Collection.

Stern of Shenandoah (ZR-1), showing rudders.

Library of Congress photo, call number: LC-B2- 6052-5. Bain Collection.

"Photograph 375. Aug. 31, 1923. General view of ZR-1."

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Record Group 72, Records of the Bureau of Aeronautics, 1911–1965; NAIL Control Number: NWDNS-72-DG-375.

Christening ceremonies for USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), held inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 10 October 1923.

Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98221).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) in flight, circa 1924.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-428443

Mrs. Edwin Denby, wife of the Secretary of the Navy and Sponsor of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) on the Sponsor's platform during the dirigible's christening ceremonies, held inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, on 10 October 1923. Mrs. Denby is ready to pull the cord that will break the christening bottle.

Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98220).

Undated picture of the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), the first of the US Navy's rigid airships, in flight. National Archives photo # 80-CF-4136-8.

Photo and text from from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911, by Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers.

"ZR-1 [Shenandoah] leaving hangar." Date and location unknown.

Library of Congress photo, call number: LC-B2- 6060-17. Bain Collection.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) over Union Station at St. Louis, Missouri, date unknown.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo.

Overhead view of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at St. Louis, Missouri flying field.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo.

From a story in St. Louis Post-Dispatch 23 October 1923, "[...] one hundred and 20 enlisted men of the army and navy caught the spider web of ropes. While the holders of two long cables, running on pulleys, drew her nose slowly earthward, the more numerous holders of many strands, branching from ropes let down from a hold in the interior of the ship, spread themselves over the surrounding ground and stabilized the position of the great craft, just over the heads of the soldiers and assembled civilians."

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) flying in the vicinity of New York City, circa 1923.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 51492).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) tethered to a triangular-shaped mooring mast at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lakehurst, New Jersey circa 1923–1925. Note the individual walking a plank extending from the nose of the aircraft to the top of the mooring mast.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo (# 1999.060.074).

Side view of the rigid airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lakehurst, New Jersey, circa 1923–1925. Photo by Clements.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo (# 1999.060.075).

Officers assigned to the airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), photographed at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1923.

Those present are:

(Bottom row, left to right): Lieutenant Louis J. Roth; Commander Frank R. McCrary, Commanding Officer; Commander Ralph D. Weyerbacher, (CC); Lieutenant Commander Joseph M. Deem; Lieutenant Commander Joseph P. Norfleet; and Lieutenant Commander Maurice R. Pierce.

(Top row, left to right): Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Raymond F. Tyler; Lieutenant Telford B. Null; Lieutenant Earle H. Kincaid; Lieutenant Arthur R. Houghton; Lieutenant Charles E. Rosendahl; Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George V. Whittle, (CC); Ensign Charles E. Bauch; and Lieutenant Joseph C. Arnold.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 789).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey. The date of the photograph appears to be 8 November 1923.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 44092).

Montage of five photographs, showing the airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) leaving her mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, circa November 1923–January 1924.

Photographed by Clements. Courtesy of Mrs. Barnes.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 92614).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) attached to the mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, circa November 1923–January 1924.

Photographed by Clements. Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (NH&HC) Photograph, # NH 82257.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, showing damage to her nose received during the storm of 16 January 1924, when she was torn away from the station's mooring mast by a strong gust of wind.

Photographed by Clements. Courtesy of Mrs. Barnes.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 92612).

USS Shenandoah receives repairs to her damaged nose structure, inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1924. She had been damaged when a storm tore her from the station's mooring mast on 16 January 1924.

This photograph, taken by Clements, shows one of her gas cells, partially deflated.

Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 82260).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to USS Patoka (AO-9), circa 1924.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 57994).

USS Patoka (AO-9) in a harbor, with the airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) overhead, circa 1924.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Harriet A. Harris, USN(NC)-Retired. Donated by Mrs. J.B. Redfield, 1961. US Naval History & Heritage Command (photo # NH 98162).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to USS Patoka (AO-9), circa 1924.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Harriet A. Harris, USN(NC)-Retired. Donated by Mrs. J.B. Redfield, 1961. US Naval History & Heritage Command (photo # NH 98163).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) secured to USS Patoka (AO-9), circa 1924.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) in flight during operations with the U.S. Fleet, circa 1924. Photographed from USS Tennessee (BB-43).

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Captain Frank Brooks Upham.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 80546).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to USS Patoka (AO-9), circa 1924.

Library of Congress photo (# LC-F8- 31898).

"The New 'Skipper' Inspects the Shenandoah:"

"Lt. Commander Zachary Landsdowne, U.S.N., recently appoint [sic] commander of the U.S. Navy dirigible Shenandoah, inspects the sandbags which hold down the big gas bag, in the hangar at Lakehurst, NJ." 17 February 1924.

USS Patoka (AO-9), with airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) secured to her mast, August 1924.

US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives (# 80-G-452975).

USS Patoka (AO-9), with airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) secured to her mast, August 1924–August 1925, location unknown.

Night photograph of USS Shenandoah's control car, probably at the time of her arrival at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California, on 10 October 1924, after a flight across the Continent.

Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, is standing in the rightmost control car window. Captain Thomas T. Craven, Commanding Officer of NAS North Island, is on the ground, at right.

Photograph from the collection of Vice Admiral T.T. Craven. Courtesy of Lieutenant Rodman DeKay, Jr., USNR (Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 90261).

"The Shenandoah at her moorings on North Island the morning after she made her first trip."

"U.S.S. Shenandoah moored to mast (No 88) on North Island, San Diego, Cal., Oct. 11, 1924"

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California, in October 1924.

Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1969.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 69451).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at NAS San Diego in October 1924.

Fred Wallace Special Collection.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California, in October 1924. USS Aroostook (CM-3) is tied up to the Air Station pier in the upper right, with a store ship—apparently Arctic (AF-7)—moored in the channel nearby.

Donation of Lieutenant Gustave Freret, USN (Retired), 1972.

Naval History and Heritage Command (NH&HC), Photo No. NH 80473.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) flying off the entrance to San Diego harbor, California, 16 October 1924.

Naval History and Heritage Command (NH&HC), Photo No. NH 705.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) in flight near the Golden Gate, off San Francisco, California, in October 1924.

Photograph from the collection of Vice Admiral T.T. Craven. Courtesy of Lieutenant Rodman DeKay, Jr., USNR (Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 90257).

"Gus T. Hendricks, US Aviation Mechanic First Class, is descending the airship mooring mast at Fort Lewis on 17 October 1936. The 165-foot mast was constructed in 1924 for the two day visit of the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1). Hendricks has been the lone keeper of the mast, and has never been used again since the airship's visit. The mast is scheduled to be removed shortly."

Tacoma Public Library, Richards Studio photo, Photo No. D717-5.

Mooring mast at Camp Lewis for the visit of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) during her Tacoma, Washington, area visit 18–19 October 1924. The 165' tower was used once and it was dismantled in 1936.

Tacoma Public Library, General Photograph Collection, Photo No. TPL-7022.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Camp Lewis, Washington, during her two-day area visit, 18–19 October 1924.

Tacoma Public Library, Richards Photo Studio, No. C162610-5.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Camp Lewis, Sunday, 19 October 1924, Tacoma, Washington. Shenandoah is hovering over a field of cars and spectators.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-24978.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at her mooring mast in Tacoma, Washington, Sunday, 19 October 1924.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Bain Collection. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ggbain-37641. Call number: LC-B2- 6275-11 [P&P].

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to USS Patoka (AO-9), circa 1924–1925.

Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy.

US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval History & Heritage Command (photo # NH 98222).

USS Patoka (AO-9) with USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) attached to her mooring mast, 1924–1925.

Airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) and USS Patoka (AO-9) off Newport, Rhode Island, 1924–25.

Photo by ©Leslie Jones, photographer (1886–1967).

These photos were most likely taken on 8–9 August 1924. The minesweeper in the middle distance appears to be USS Rail (AM-26). Rail was in the Pacific in 1925.

Airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) and USS Patoka (AO-9) off Newport, Rhode Island, 1924–25.

Photo by ©Leslie Jones, photographer (1886–1967).

These photos were possibly taken on 8–9 August 1924.

Airship USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) and USS Patoka (AO-9) off Newport, Rhode Island, 1924–25.

Photo by ©Leslie Jones, photographer (1886–1967).

These photos were possibly taken on 8–9 August 1924.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to a portable mast, circa 1924–1925.

Photograph from the Albert Chamberlain photo album, donated by Colonel Carl Mahakian, USMCR, 1975.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98226).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to the airship mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, circa 1924–1925.

Donation of Dr. & Mrs. William James Morgan, 1988.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98228).

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored at an unknown location, 1924–1925.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC) photograph. Donor: Robert Fricks. Accession: 2014. Catalog #: 2014.27.

USS Patoka (AO-9) at Bar Harbor, Maine, circa 2 to 5 July 1925, with USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) moored to her mast. The two ships in the background are USCGC Patterson (CG-16) and USCGC Cummings (CG-3).

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, 3–4 July 1925. Full-dressed ships at anchor are, left to right: USCGC Patterson (CG-16), USCGC McCall (CG-14) and USCGC Beale (CG-9).

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, 3–4 July 1925. Bow of USCGC Beale (CG-9) is visible on the lower left corner.

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, 3–4 July 1925.

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Patoka (AO-9) mooring USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, circa 3 to 4 July 1925. In the foreground, at left, is the steam yacht Lyndonia, later Southern Seas, commissioned USS Southern Seas (PY-32) during World War II and sunk at Buckner Bay, Okinawa during Typhoon Louise in 1945.

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Patoka (AO-9) mooring USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, circa 3–4 July 1925. At left, the steam yacht Lyndonia, later Southern Seas, commissioned USS Southern Seas (PY-32) during World War II and sunk at Buckner Bay, Okinawa during Typhoon Louise in 1945.

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Patoka (AO-9) mooring USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, circa 3–4 July 1925. At left, the steam yacht Lyndonia, later Southern Seas, commissioned USS Southern Seas (PY-32) during World War II and sunk at Buckner Bay, Okinawa during Typhoon Louise in 1945.

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Patoka (AO-9) mooring USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, circa 3–4 July 1925.

US Navy photo from the collection of Raymond Strout.

USS Patoka (AO-9) mooring USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) at Bar Harbor, Maine, circa 3–4 July 1925. At left, the steam yacht Lyndonia, later Southern Seas, commissioned USS Southern Seas (PY-32) during World War II and sunk at Buckner Bay, Okinawa during Typhoon Louise in 1945.

US Navy photo from the collection of Henry W. Brown.

"City Views Great Spectacle In Air; Shenandoah Here—Four Airplanes Escort Big Airship Over Coatesville; Flying Circus Moves On, Leaving In Its Wake Epidemic of Stiff Necks—City Marvels at Splendid Sight Overhead"

Coatesville Record, Pennsylvania, 8? September 1925.

Cindy wrote Big Jack, Cowboy Aviator, a historical novel, but also biographical fiction in that it is based on the life of a great uncle who was a pilot in the 1920s.

Wreckage of USS Shenandoah's bow section on a southern Ohio farm soon after it crashed. Note sightseers and their automobiles.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98998).

Wreckage of the airship's forward section, soon after it landed near Sharon, in southeastern Ohio. This view shows the forward section from off its port side.

Photographed by Dowling, Caldwell, Ohio.

Courtesy of Allan J. Drugan, 1967.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 42043).

Wreckage of Shenandoah's after section, surrounded by sightseers and their automobiles, soon after the airship crashed in southern Ohio.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 98997).

View of the wreckage of the airship's after section, soon after she crashed in southeastern Ohio. This view shows the after section's port side, forward of the tail fins.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 42026).

Wreckage of the airship's after section, soon after she crashed in southeastern Ohio. This view was taken from off the after section's starboard front end, with the tail at the left and the top national star marking at right.

Photographed by Dowling, Caldwell, Ohio. Courtesy of Allan J. Drugan, 1967.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 42042).

Wreckage of the airship's after section, soon after she crashed in southeastern Ohio. This view shows the entire after section, from off the starboard side, with the remains of the tail fins at the left. Note the many automobiles and sightseers.

Photographed by Dowling, Caldwell, Ohio. Courtesy of Allan J. Drugan, 1967.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 42040).

Men working on the airship's wreckage, possibly during salvage efforts some time after the crash.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photograph (# NH 42027).

"German Air Expert Places Blame of Shenandoah Disaster Upon Dead Commander."

"Direct blame for the Shenandoah disaster was placed upon the late Zachary Lansdowne, commander of the ill-fated aircraft, by Capt. Anton Heinen, (arrow), German air expert, shown above testifying before naval board at Lakehurst, N.J. Heinen accused the crew of mishandling the airship and declared that craft could have been saved from storm."

New Britain Herald, Connecticut, Friday, 2 October 1925.