Resources

The Postal Museum has provided additional resources to support the new exhibit, Fire & Ice: Hindenburg and Titanic. Whether for the classroom, creative inspiration, personal enrichment, or social sharing, these resources are meant to support your further exploration of the themes of the exhibit.

For Educators

Two little girls looking at stamps

EDUCATORS: CONNECT TO HINDENBURG AND TITANIC. Use these concepts and questions to guide your classes’ exploration of the Fire & Ice exhibit. Gain critical thinking skills by comparing and contrasting the vessels’ stories. Strengthen communication and creative thinking skills by discussing answers to these thought-provoking questions, and connecting historical content to today. Don’t stop with just these questions though, continue to explore the exhibit by asking and answering your own questions. Think of different ways students can document and share their conversations, whether it’s written or recorded, individually or in groups.

Pop Culture
Hook your students into the stories of Hindenburg and Titanic with pop culture. Examine movie posters, games, and other items that commemorated the two icons throughout the 20th century.

Start a conversation:

  • Do you think pop culture helps or hurts the true story of Hindenburg and Titanic?
  • What recent events will have movies and games created about them in the future?
  • What other questions do you have?

Technology, Lifestyle and Mail
Explore the different technologies of Hindenburg and Titanic. Delve into the passengers’ lifestyles and understand how they communicated with the outside world while on board.

Make it relevant:

  • What is considered technologically-advanced transportation today? What are the amenities like?
  • How has communication changed since the time of Hindenburg and Titanic? Are there dedicated spaces for communication today similar to the letter writing rooms in both vessels?
  • What other questions do you have?

Disaster
Study the causes of the Hindenburg’s explosion and the Titanic’s plunge. See photographs and footage of the disasters, examine objects pulled from the wreckage, and examine survivor accounts.

Connect to the history:

  • Which survivor story will you remember?
  • In a disaster, what possession would you save?
  • What other questions do you have?

Fire & Ice: Hindenburg and Titanic