Phew: Iconic New Hampshire Tram Isn’t Going Anywhere

It's one of many activities both visitors and locals love. The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway that carries us up the mountain to the summit is about to undergo some work, but not what many were worried about. Being that it's the very first tram in North America, this is spectacular news (for history's sake, if nothing else).

According to Boston.com, this aerial tramway in Franconia Notch State Park needs to be modernized and repaired with a five-year price tag to the state of New Hampshire of around $18 million and yes, it was approved by the legislature. So why was there concern? Well, the price, which was originally $25 million, started the conversation of whether it was worth saving. Then there was talk of replacing the tram with a gondola, which means less cost and upkeep.

Luckily, according to Boston.com, the conversations of removing the tram for good or even replacing it with a gondola were met with disagreements from all sides. Clearly, you can't put a price tag on this iconic history, especially when it brings millions of tourism dollars annually to New Hampshire.

According to Boston.com, the experience is going to remain the exact same after all is said and done. And that includes keeping the red and yellow cars alternating in what is lovingly referred to as the ketchup and mustard tradition. The only difference will be more modernized cars. The original tram started in 1938, with the current tram operating since 1980. It's an eight-minute scenic ride to Cannon’s 4,080-foot summit. Each car carries 80 people, and on a clear day, you can see New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York, and Canada.

Construction will most likely begin in 2025 after there's an accepted bid, according to Boston.com.