National Ferris Wheel Day
National Ferris Wheel Day is the annual celebration of National Ferris Wheel Day on February 14th. The Ferris Wheel's founder, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., is the man who invented the Ferris Wheel. The holiday is dedicated to George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., who invented the Ferris Wheel.
Preparations for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition began in earnest in 1891. Daniel H. Burnham, the fair's director of works, set out the challenge: create a centerpiece to the exhibition that would rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The Eiffel Tower, which was built the year before, became a world attraction. Plans were sketched about, plans were presented, and plans were rejected, and concepts were dismissed.
Gale Ferris, George Washington Gale Ferris was inspired. He considered several options, but it wasn't until one evening in a Chicago chophouse that he realized he had a brilliant idea that would work for the challenge that wasn't until that evening. He began to develop his plans after sketching out the idea on napkins.
Burnham balked when told of the theory, fearing that it could safely carry people to such heights. Ferris Persisted, Ferris persisted. He invested $25,000 of his own money, recruited engineers, designed the 250-foot diameter wheel, and hoisted it up against 140-foot twin towers, earning $600,000 more from investors, hired engineers, and boosted it up between 140-foot twin towers.
It was a monumental success at 26 stories high and grossing $726,805.50. That was a hefty profit for the fair in 1893.
Ferris failed after the fair, despite the wheel's triumph. Who owes who bankrupted him? Law suits have been filed over who owes who bankrupted him. His wife left him. he died at the age of 37 in 1896, just a few years after the fair, at the age of 37.
The original wheel of a similar fate. It was destroyed with dynamite for scrap metal in 1906. However, the Ferris Wheel lives on, and we continue to enjoy wheels around the world.
Around the world, wheels turn the world
- Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel in Tianjin, China, is built over a bridge across the Hai River
- The Thames River in London is overlooked by the London Eye
- From 1918 to 1920, the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company built the ever-popular Wonder Wheel of Coney Island in New York City
- From a seat on the Niagara Skywheel in Canada, take your breath away watching Niagara Falls from a seat on the Niagara Falls
How to celebrate #nationalferriswheelday
- If you are near a Ferris Wheel, take a lift to the top and enjoy the view
- Post a snapshot of your view from the Ferris Wheel's top
- Read a book about the Ferris Wheel. Ferris Wheels: An Illustrated History by Norman Anderson, Observation Wheels: A History by Norman Anderson, Observation Wheels: A Guide to the World's Largest Ferris Wheels by Nick Weisenberger, or Robert Lawson's The Great Wheel
- Invite someone to join you and share the story. It's the most effective way to #CelebrateEveryDay, as you can see
- Use #NationalFerrisWheelDay to post on social media to share your favorite Ferris Wheel
History of national ferris wheel day has influenced national ferris wheel day
We've been around and about this day's origins. And although we know it honors the Ferris Wheel's designer, we have yet to identify the day's narrator.
Ferris wheel FAQ
Q. Where is the world's biggest Ferris Wheel? The Ain Dubai in Abu Dhabi, the world's tallest Ferris wheel at 820 feet tall, is the world's tallest Ferris wheel at 820 feet tall.
Q. What are some other names for a Ferris wheel?
A. The Ferris wheel has also been described as the big wheel, massive wheel, and observation wheel.
