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Alexander Bright’s Five-Year Battle for Cannon Mountain Tramway

In 1933, Olympic skier Alexander Bright came home from Europe with a bold plan.

The Boston stockbroker had seen the future of mountain travel in Austria and wanted to build America’s first aerial tramway. He soon got the American Steel and Wire Company to check out New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

After looking at seven spots, experts picked Cannon Mountain in 1934. But money was tight in the Great Depression, and the plan hit a wall.

Three years later, luck changed when New Hampshire put up $250,000 to make it happen. Through harsh winter months, workers hauled tons of steel and cement up the mountain by hand and backpack.

The dream finally came true on June 28, 1938, when North America’s first aerial tramway opened to huge crowds at Cannon Mountain.

Olympic Skier Brings European Idea Home

Alec Bright came back from the 1933 ski championships in Innsbruck with a plan.

The Boston stockbroker and Olympic skier wanted to bring European cable cars to America’s White Mountains. Bright saw how a tram could boost tourism all year long.

He noticed how much people liked trams in Europe and thought New Hampshire needed one too. As a top eastern U.S. skier and member of elite ski clubs, people listened when he talked.

Team Scouts Perfect Mountain Location

In November 1933, Bright got L.R. Batemen from American Steel and Wire Company to check out Franconia Notch. E.J. Lloyd joined them, along with Roland Peabody, a local who knew every trail and ridge in the area.

Peabody loved the idea of bringing more fun things to do in the White Mountains.

The team walked around, took notes, and planned what it would take to build America’s first passenger tram. Ski fans quickly got excited about Bright’s big idea.

Seven Mountains Compete for First Tramway

The team looked at seven good spots, checking building costs, running costs, and possible income for each place.

They started with 25 possible sites across the White Mountains before narrowing it down to just Moosilauke and Cannon. Workers climbed each peak, testing soil, checking wind, and mapping roads.

They wanted to keep the mountains pretty and not ruin the views. Experts carefully planned where to put cables and towers.

Governor’s Committee Falls for Cannon Mountain

In spring 1934, Governor John G. Winant’s committee picked Cannon Mountain.

They liked that they could build there without cutting down many trees or spoiling the beauty of Franconia Notch. The 4,180-foot mountain worked perfectly for both winter skiing and summer sightseeing.

Roland Peabody talked about the project to everyone, especially state lawmakers.

His excitement helped convince the New Hampshire government that the tram would be worth the money.

Great Depression Throws the Project Off Track

The team got laws passed in 1935 but couldn’t get federal money. The Great Depression made money tight, and the government couldn’t pay for a ski lift.

As America struggled after the 1929 crash, Bright’s tram plans seemed stuck. Still, he and his friends kept pushing and looking for other ways to pay for their dream.

They didn’t give up even when things looked bad.

New Hampshire Bets Big on Tramway Dream

Governor Francis P. Murphy signed a bill in June 1937 that got things moving again.

The law allowed a $250,000 loan to pay for the tram. After years of delays, Bright and his team finally had the cash they needed.

The state picked Roland E. Peabody to run the Cannon Mountain tram once it was built.

By using state money, New Hampshire showed it believed the tram would bring in tourism dollars.

Construction Contract Kicks Project into High Gear

American Steel Wire Company got the job in August 1937 with a bid of $246,975. The same company that first checked out the mountain now got to build America’s first tram.

Work started right away with plans for towers, cables, and stations. Workers mapped out every part needed for the big project.

The builders faced a tight schedule to get the tram running before the next ski season.

Civilian Conservation Corps Shapes the Mountain

While work started on the tram itself, 200 men from the Civilian Conservation Corps got busy with other jobs. They made four new ski trails: Coppermine, Tucker Brook, Kinsman, and Cannon.

They also built a parking lot for visitors. Skiers had used old logging roads since 1929, including the Richard Taft Race Course made in 1931-1932.

The workers also built a small freight tram to carry building materials up the mountain.

Workers Haul Materials Up Mountain by Hand

Four dozen men carried cement and other supplies up the mountain on their backs, finishing this hard job in December. About 50 workers moved building materials to the top.

They carried 32 carloads of cement, 232 tons of steel, and four miles of cable up the steep slopes. Winter made everything harder, with snow, ice, and freezing cold slowing progress.

Still, the crews kept working to finish what they started.

Hands-on Construction Through Harsh Winter

The work went on through the cold months, with almost everything done by hand. Workers poured cement, put together steel parts, and hung miles of cable in freezing weather.

Builders called it one of the most amazing projects of its time. The nine-month building schedule pushed workers to their limits.

They planned to open in May 1938, but bad weather pushed the date back to late June.

America’s First Aerial Tramway Opens to Fanfare

The big day came on June 28, 1938, when North America’s first tram welcomed its first riders. News teams from across the country showed up with cameras and notebooks to capture the historic moment.

The tram became a hit right away, carrying 163,000 passengers in its first year.

Just as Bright and his supporters thought, the tram made money for New Hampshire and proved skiing could be a real business in the state.

Visiting Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway Station

You can visit Alexander Bright’s historic tramway at 260 Tramway Drive in Franconia, New Hampshire. Book your $28 round-trip tickets online to save $3 and make required reservations.

The tramway runs daily 9am-5pm through October, with the last car up at 4:30pm.

Check out the original 1938 tramway car at the base station’s New England Ski Museum, then grab a beer at Café 4080’s summit taps before the tramway closes after 2025 for replacement.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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