Before 1907: A handful of mountains, mostly in Europe, have cog or rack railways to transport people to higher elevations. The few aerial tramways that existed were used mainly for freight.

1907: A passenger-carrying tramway is built on Sunrise Peak, Colo., for summertime tourist use.

1908: A water-powered rope tow is installed in Schonaich, Germany, the first lift built specifically for winter sports.

1910s: An aerial tramway to carry tourists opens in Rio de Janeiro. Europe’s first aerial tramway built for winter sports opens in San Vigilio, Italy.

1920s: Small ski areas pop up in places now accessible by car. Signs reading “Ski Tows” start appearing. These rope tows are often assembled from old auto parts.

1930s: Resorts as we know them start to take shape. Sun Valley, Idaho, builds the world’s first chairlift, and Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire opens the first enclosed aerial tramway in the United States.

1950s: Aerial tramways and chairlifts become tourist attractions and the centerpieces of the rapidly growing ski industry.

1960s to present: Heavy- lifting helicopters make it far easier to build aerial tramways in remote locations. New lifts of all types become larger and faster. New sports such as downhill mountain biking and para-gliding are burgeoning because of the lifts. High-capacity aerial tramways are being installed as public transportation in New York and Medellin, Colombia.

— By Brian Yarvin, special to The Washington Post