Tacoma Washington Camp Lewis Dirigible Mooring Mast For USS Shenandoah ZR-1 1924 Real Photo Postcard

A dirigible mooring mast was a vital piece of infrastructure designed to secure large airships, enabling them to dock and be serviced without extensive ground crews or dedicated hangars. This particular mast at Camp Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington, reflects the early 20th-century drive by the U.S. military to explore the strategic capabilities of lighter-than-air craft, primarily for reconnaissance and coastal defense. The image, copyrighted in 1924, captures a moment during the post-World War I era when rigid airships were seen as a promising frontier in aviation technology.