US Navy Dirigible Mooring Station
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
In 1917 oil was across north-central Texas. A natural by-product of the oil is helium. The United States Army and Navy contracted to build a pipeline that would deliver the helium to Fort Worth for processing for us by US Navy airships or dirigibles. This location is the site of the mooring stations for those airships so they could refuel during cross-country flights. The mooring mast was located on Pylon Street.
Images
US Navy airship ZR-1, “Shenandoah” departing Fort Worth October 9, 1924
Greater Fort Worth City Map for 1925 showing helium plant and mooring station off Blue Mound and Mecham Blvd
USS Shenandoah, cut-away drawing
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
In 1924, the Navy constructed a dirigible mooring station near the helium plant to service Navy and Army airships on cross-country flights. The half-mile square site was in operation from 1924 to 1929. Most notable airships to visit the station were the ZR-1, “Shenandoah” and the ZR-3, “Los Angeles.”