LZ 129 Hindenburg was a German passenger airship, known as a dirigible, that operated in the 1930s. It was one of the largest flying objects ever built, measuring 804 feet long. The Hindenburg was designed to carry passengers and cargo across the Atlantic Ocean, offering a luxurious travel experience. The airship met a tragic end on May 6, 1937, when it caught fire while attempting to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey. This disaster resulted in the deaths of 36 people and marked the decline of airship travel, leading to a shift towards airplanes for long-distance travel.