In the early 20th century, dirigibles were considered to be the wave of the future in travel because they were capable of traveling long distances at high altitudes, which made them suitable for long-distance travel and exploration. They were also seen as a safer and more comfortable alternative to airplanes, which were still in their early stages of development. Additionally, dirigibles were capable of carrying large amounts of cargo and passengers, which made them attractive for commercial purposes. However, the development of airplanes and the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 led to a decline in the use of dirigibles for travel.