Cable Car Museum

Station of the General Belgrano railway line Chilecito Cultural Center
Tel. No. 0837-20650
Open Mondays through Sundays from 6a. m. to 8p. m.

The Incas were already aware of the wealth Famatina harbored in its gold mines. The Spaniards, however, were the first to promote the development of mining in the area. In 1899, the national government extended the railway, line from Córdoba (Cruz del Eje) up to Chilecito. However, the mines were 4,300m. high, and it was Joaquín V. González who promoted the construction of a cable car that was inaugurated by an English company in July 1904. The cable is supported by 262 towers and runs through nine stations, the last of which was called "La Mejicana" and stood 4,603m. above sea level. The trip was covered in four hours. This was the longest cable car in the world and played an important role in fostering the development of the area. The museum is located next to the cable car and exhibits documents and photographs of this extraordinary engineering work that contributed so greatly to the development of the region. Exhibits include a steam engine dating back to 1828, samples of the minerals extracted from La Mejicana, tools and hand telephones.

Chilecito
The city of Chilecito is located on national route No. 40, 192km. away from the city of La Rioja, at the foot of the eastern flank of the Famatina massif 1,100m. above sea, level. It owes its name to the fact that a large number of Chilean laborers worked in its mines. The city's original name was Santa Rita. Nowadays it has developed into a summer resort with an active social and commercial life.