History Bytes: Airships in Newport

July 9, 2013
Photo of the airship Shenandoah from the NHS collection.

US Navy Airship Shenandoah in Narragansett Bay 1923, image from the NHS collections.

The new Newport to Block Island high speed ferry is another reminder that resort destinations within Rhode Island have always been easily accessible. In July 1910, Stuart Davis of Providence and John Jacob Astor of Newport devised a plan to establish airship ferry service from Hazard’s Beach to Scarborough Beach at Narragansett Pier. One airship was brought up by Astor and the other was furnished by the Zodiac Dirigible Company of France. Support buildings were to be constructed at both sites. The first flight in late August failed to reach the necessary altitude and the whole project was immediately scrapped. The New York Times article of 7 July 1910 reported that Wilbur Wright will deliver aeroplanes to some of the wealthy cottagers in August.