In 2013 the Ferris Wheel, otherwise known as Big Wheel, celebrated its 110th birthday!! This a monumental achievement and one that we feel should be recognized!
Potentially one of the greatest inventions of all time, the Ferris Wheel was invented by George Washington Ferris, a civil engineer from Illinois, way back in the 1890’s. The very first Ferris Wheel was manufactured for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, costing approximately $300,000.00 to build.
The George Washington Ferris Wheel is still the largest wheel ever built, weighing roughly 1300 tonnes. Which in other terms is about a tenth of the weight of the Eiffel Tower - and we all know how big that is!
Standing over 25 stories high and holding over 1400 passengers, the very first Ferris Wheel was a thing of beauty and something to be marveled at. From the very top of the ride, passengers could see for 50 miles and it took approximately 20 minutes for the enormous wheel to make one full rotation.
After the Chicago World’s Fair, the George Washington Ferris Wheel was taken to the 1904 St. Louis Exposition for thousands to enjoy and witness it in it’s entirety.
Once the St. Louis Exposition had finished, the wheel was returned to Chicago and dismantled because it was just too expensive to keep the wheel in operation. The metal from the Ferris Wheel was used to build a large ship, the U.S.S Illinois, during World War I.
The Ferris Wheel we use today is much smaller and far less impressive but still provides hours of magic and fun for all who come to ride them! Old Tyme Funfairs use only traditional fun fair rides and modern stalls, and offer all of our services for hire.
If you would like to make an inquiry into hiring our fair ground rides for a special occasion, or large town event, you need only call us. One of our friendly ride managers will be able to help you and discuss your requirements with you today! Thanks for reading and we hope you have learnt something new!
