What is 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.
