Mississippi Aerial River Transit, Gondola lift in New Orleans, US
The Mississippi Aerial River Transit was a cable car system that crossed the Mississippi River at about 300 feet high, connecting the Warehouse District to New Orleans' West Bank. The system transported passengers over the wide river in roughly four minutes per trip.
The cable car system opened in 1984 for the Louisiana World Exposition and was the first urban commuter gondola system in the United States. After operating for just one year, the system closed and never reopened.
The system received a blessing from Archbishop Philip Hannan at its opening, showing how locals connected tradition with modern technology. This blend of the spiritual and the practical remains a defining feature of how New Orleans embraces innovation.
The closed route can be viewed from the Warehouse District, where visitors can see remains and information about the historic project. Historical markers and information signs along the area explain the route and explain the system's past significance.
After closure, several gondola cars were repurposed as fishing huts and restaurant dining areas at different locations around the city. This second life of the cable cars shows how locals creatively adapted old structures for new uses.
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