The history of Ferris wheels

In 1893 up-and-coming engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. created an attraction for the world's fair in Chicago: A giant, steam-powered wheel on which passengers could gently ride to a height of 250 feet for a spectacular view. These days, Ferris Wheels (or observation wheels) are all the rage. Correspondent Roxana Saberi spins the story of their origins, and takes a ride on some of the most notable Ferris wheels around.
@DenosWonderWheelPark @OfficialLondonEye @navypier

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[roxannemitchell]

My first time on a Ferris Wheel was in the 60's. I was eleven (11) yrs old. I rode it with my grandma, who made it memorable. It was in Boulder, CO. The memory still sticks with me today, at age 68.

[chrisfinch]

The biggest Ferris wheel I ever rode on, was the one at Navy Pier, in Chicago, and the one at the LINQ Hotel, in Las Vegas. I still need to see the Millennium Wheel and these other classic ones.

[zoecunningham]

Popular! No doubt gaining more notoriety as generations grow. It is & will always be pleasurable. The height for views, the cooler breeze during a hot crowded area below, the rest away from the rush. A welcoming delight

[steveconn]

Magic pieces of Americana. Coincidentally there's also a great one across from the Louvre in Paris!

[lynnepearse]

Such a young aged man to have lost his life and the future of his invention and the joy it brings to people.

[curious]

We rode on one tonight, in a city called Bursa, in Turkiye. ❤ 4th of July, 2023. Thank you for your invention, Mr. Farris 🙏

[yugioht]

The oldest Ferris wheel that’s still standing is the 3rd man wheel in Europe which was retrofitted to be fully electronic although most of it still is the original wood and metal facade. It’s a beautiful piece of history that just refuses to ever come down despite missing a number of cars. Plus you can still ride it although you can’t open the doors like the movie.

[mhbbej]

My Grandparents lived 15 blocks from the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island. I had a great childhood riding both whenever I would visit my grandparents.

[brendacox]

Excellent story and history of the wheel. Thank you. I never knew how this ride came about.

[pelarinbacosiii]

0:48 Hey! That's Paul Durica, one of my Pub Trivia teammates on the Angry Jesuses at the University of Chicago! MVP in Presidential history, Chicago history (of course!), and Literature.

[MultiPetercool]

Seattle has a Wheel, a Needle and a Monorail. I remember an episode of “Cheers” where Frasier comments that Seattle is a town that thinks it’s Disneyland! 😂

[yugioht]

The wonder wheel isn’t my favorite Ferris wheel although it is nice. I like the slower panoramic ones as you have time to look and admire. There has been a lot of innovation in these just I wish they would do more.

[jackhackett]

George Washington Gale is credited with founding the Illinois city of Galesburg. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr has that namesake because he was born in Galesburg, Illinois. Don't live there anymore, but it's my hometown and there a couple cool claims to fame there

[jessicafallen]

Rode the sky wheel in Myrtle Beach first time June25 with my daughter loved it

[Coolcarting]

One of the first wheels in the United States was built in 1848 by Antonio Maguino, who used it to draw crowds to his rural park and picnic grounds in Walton Spring, Georgia. As the concept of mixing amusement rides with park and picnic facilities caught on, several companies began manufacturing wheels of various designs. In 1870, Charles W.P. Dare of Brooklyn made several wood wheels of 20-and 30-ft (6.1-and 9.1-m) diameters, which he sold as the Dare Aerial Swing. The Conderman Brothers of Indiana made an even larger wheel when they developed a 35-ft (10.7-m) metal wheel in the 1880s.

[WorldsFairSociety-monthlymeeti]

A nice report, HOWEVER...
It's DEFINITELY a report that got "over-edited" (downsized), and left out important parts of the history of the original Ferris Wheel:
The original wheel (at the 1893 Chicago WF) was disassembled and brought to St. Louis, where it was the star of the 1904 World's Fair.
- Only after there were "no buyers" for it, was it dynamited for scrap and salvage in May 1906 by its owners, the Chicagh House Wrecking Company.

[pibbitybibbity]

I am TERRIFIED of Ferris wheels. I hate the entire experience, how it feels, etc. You can put me on a rollercoaster going 75 mph, twisting, turning, looping, etc. and I gleefully cackle the entire ride. The minute the Ferris wheel starts moving, it is everything I can do not to cry, get on the floor, and cover my head. 😂

[mrguystarr]

The swinging cars on the Wonder Wheel (Coney) are fun! Scary even.

[SlinkyFromHell.]

Wonder Wheel in Coney Island is #1 because you get the option to ride in a car that swings & slides in and out from the center of the wheel and a standard stationary car.

[huajieliu]

I feel scared by taking it. But this design is pure magic.