Friday, May 25, 2012

This Day in History May 25, 1981

Here's something a little bit different to share with you.  On this date in 1981 (it was Memorial Day back then), Dan Goodwin climbed the Sears Tower (which used to be the highest skyscraper--108 floors).  Let me clarify.  He wore a Spiderman suit--complete with suction cups--and climbed the outside of the building in seven and a half hours.  The Chicago Fire Department tried to stop him several times with a window washer machine.  When he got to the top, he was arrested for trespassing.  He was dubbed "Spiderman."  His purpose in making the climb was to show the weaknesses of rescue in high-rise buildings and the shortcomings of firefighting techniques.

I will say that I find this rather pointless, but then I often think daredevils such as these are a little "off."  I guess to each his own, but I can think of a lot better things than climbing a building on Memorial Day!

For more information, please check out:
http://www.hardknocks.tv/?p=1144
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Goodwin
http://www.skyscraperdefense.com/building_climbs.html

2 comments:

  1. I have to agree I know I could find a better way to spend a day... to each their own I guess!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW! I always wondered if they made suction cups strong enough for someone to do that.

    ReplyDelete

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