Friday, Jun 30, 2006
A state of the art temporary rope tramway will be used to ferry supplies for next week’s fireworks show to the top of the memorial instead of the traditional helicopter. The tram is being set up in the same location where a tram existed in the 1930s during construction of the sculpture.
“This system is less expensive and far safer than using a helicopter,” said Memorial Superintendent Gerard Baker. “This new system is reminiscent of the tram system used by Gutzon Borglum when he was carving the sculpture over sixty years ago.”
The tramway, which consists of a 660-foot highline rope and trolley pulley system, will temporarily connect the Presidential Trail at the base of the memorial to a tripod mounted atop the figure of President Roosevelt. Firework loads and equipment will be secured to the pulley and pulled to the top of the sculpture using an electrical winch. After the fireworks are unloaded, staff from Zambelli Fireworks Internationale will begin assembling the pyrotechnics for next Monday’s show.
Superintendent Baker added, “The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society donated the funding for the tramway and the fireworks. The Society has been partners of Mount Rushmore since 1930 when they helped create the memorial. We would like to thank them for their incredible support of time and money necessary to sponsor this outstanding event for the people of South Dakota.”
Photo Caption: Crews were busy Monday setting up the temporary rope tramway that will be used to haul materials to the top of the memorial for the July 3 fireworks show.
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