{"nrhp_refnum":"89000942","name":"SHENANDOAH Crash Sites","other_names":[],"category":"district","location":{"address":"Near I-77 and Co. Rt. 37 and OH 78 W of Caldwell","address_restricted":false,"city":"Caldwell","county":"Noble County","state":"OH","lat":39.78380787750004,"lon":-81.56798936937533,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1989-07-25","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Military","Transportation"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A discontiguous district of three crash sites in Noble County, Ohio, where the U.S. Navy airship USS Shenandoah broke apart on September 3, 1925. Site 1 includes a c.1870 farmhouse and garden near Ava, site 2 is an open field across I-77, and site 3 is a roadside spot near Sharon.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the crash was a major event in the history of Noble County and southeastern Ohio. It also ties to the Navy's airship program and to Commander Zachary Lansdowne, who died in the wreck. Study of the disaster led to stronger hull designs, better engines and improved weather forecasting for later airships.","narrative":"Three separate locations in Noble County, Ohio, mark where the Navy airship USS Shenandoah came down on September 3, 1925, after a violent storm broke it apart. Site 1 centers on a c.1870 two-story frame farmhouse and garden near Ava, where the control car fell and Commander Zachary Lansdowne and six crewmen died. Site 2, an open field across I-77, is where the 400-foot stern section came to rest; concrete blocks now outline its shape. Site 3, about six miles southwest near Sharon, is where the bow section was tied to two trees and the surviving crew landed. Markers placed in 1975 commemorate the event. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built in the United States and the first inflated with helium. The wreck led to stronger hull construction, more powerful engines, and better weather forecasting for later airships. It also drew public attention through the court of inquiry and the court-martial of Billy Mitchell.","period_of_significance":"1925","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Site No. 1: No style; Sites No. 2 and 3: N/A","criteria":["A","B"],"status_note":"The Gamary farmhouse at site 1 is listed as vacant, with doors, windows, mantels and plaster removed. Site 2 is marked by concrete blocks and a sign. Site 3 has tree stumps, a gravel drive and a granite marker.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:14.373058-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/89000942.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71990801","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/noble-county/shenandoah-crash-sites-89000942/"}