Artificial Snow

November 13, 2009

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Profile America — Friday, November 13th. An airplane flew over Mount Greylock in Massachusetts on this date in 1946, dropping ice crystals into a cloud, creating the first artificial snow. The experiment was the work of noted scientist Vincent Schaefer and caught the attention of ski resort owners, who began their own work in the field. By 1952, the first snow-making machinery was in regular use at a resort in the Catskill Mountains. Today, most every ski resort has snow-making equipment to guarantee skiers a good time, even if the weather does not cooperate. Across the U.S., nearly 9 million people take part in alpine or cross-country skiing each year, and more than 5 million others enjoy snowboarding. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: 440 International Calendar of Events
Kane's Famous First Facts, 6774
www.massmoments.org
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1209
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html