10 Most Important Events In History Caught On Film
Occasionally, a video camera captures a historic event, but these 10 are the most important.
Film has been around since 1888, and between then and now, some extraordinarily important events in human history have transpired. There will never be a video of Caesar crossing the Rubicon, or of Joan of Arc leading her troops, but thanks to the technical innovations of the late 19th century, we've been able to capture almost every major moment on camera since.
As film technology advanced to include sound and color, more and more important events were documented for posterity so that other generations could learn from the mistakes of the past. Likewise, as we have advanced as a society, it has become more and more important to document the actions of important people and events, but not every event has been noteworthy.
Over the past 130+ years, countless brave men and women have snared combat footage, some of which has made this list, while other events were captured on film by accident. Occasionally, a camera lens has been pointed at the right place and time to document something of such great importance - meaning it can never be forgotten.
It wasn't possible to say one of these ten events occurring over the past century and a bit was more important than another - so they're presented chronologically.
10. The Hindenburg Disaster, 6 May 1937
When: 6 May 1937
Where: Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey
What: The Hindenburg Disaster was one of the earliest disasters of its kind captured on video. Ocean Liner wrecks like the Titanic never made it to film, but the world was watching when the LZ 129 Hindenburg attempted to dock with a mooring mast at NAS Lakehurst.
When the ship failed to meet its mast, it caught fire and burst into flame. The quick spread was due to the use of hydrogen gas, a highly flammable element, which was used to lift the ship into the air.
There was a degree of uncertainty as to how exactly the airship caught fire in the first place despite the accident being recorded. News of the disaster would go on to be spread around the world via newsreels where parts of Herbert Morrison's original radio broadcast of the disaster made the words, "Oh, the humanity," a historical reminder of the tragedy he witnessed.
There were 97 people on board the vessel when it burst into flames, which resulted in 36 deaths (22 crewmembers and 13 passengers), but they weren't the only victims. A single worker on the ground was killed when the Hindenburg fell from the sky.