The invention of the Ferris Wheel

The first Ferris Wheel was built by bridge maker George Ferris in Chicago. His knowledge of struts, beams and supports, as well as a skilled mastery of foundation and balance of larger constructions made him the man for the job.

Ferris conceived the idea of the Wheel by looking at the structure of the Merry- go-Round. A popular part of the carnival, it seemed to generate large revenue, with a relatively simple structure. In response to the Eiffel Tower, Ferris knew that his invention had to be very large. Ferris concluded that a vertical wheel would make the same splash as a horizontal one, and he set about drawing up plans for a wheel that would make every wheel known to man look small.

The Ferris Wheel cost $380,000 to make and stood at 264 feet. After its execution, however, it grossed twice as much in ride sales, making it a very profitable member of the exhibition. The diameter of the wheel was 250 feet, making it the largest known wheel in America at the time. It also contained an axle of 45 feet, which was unheard of. It contained 36 wooden cars that were suspended by iron clamps to the structure of the Wheel and axle. It held 2160 passengers and stopped on every second revolution to let a new group of people in. It was built by the Detroit Bridge and Iron works, and it cost 50 cents a ride.

The unveiling of the first Ferris Wheel was in 1893 at the Chicago World Fair. It was quite an event. The passengers dressed in ball gowns and carried champagne and cigars. They toasted each revolution of the wheel and gave rounds of applause.

Ferris wheel are still very popular today. In fact, a carnival is not considered a carnival without the Ferris Wheel.