The History of the Ferris Wheel

The history of the Ferris wheel is a story of ambition, engineering and a little controversy. While rotating “pleasure wheels” existed centuries earlier, the Ferris wheel as we know it today took shape in the late 19th century during the race to create a centerpiece that could rival the Eiffel Tower.

The result became one of the most recognizable amusement rides in the world.

Today, you can rent a Ferris Wheel that is descended from that original majestic feat of engineering at the end of the 19^th century. It’s a ride that has never lost its grip on the American imagination.

When Was the Ferris Wheel Invented?

The modern Ferris wheel was introduced in 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. But rotating “pleasure wheels” had existed for centuries before George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. introduced his design.

Writings from the 17th century describe early versions of these rides. Peter Mundy, who traveled across Europe and Asia from 1608 to 1667, wrote about “pleasure wheels” with chairs suspended by rope from a large wheel turned by a team of men.

Pietro Della Valle also wrote about a Great Wheel at a Ramadan festival in Constantinople in 1615. Similar versions continued to appear across Europe and India over the next few centuries.

Where Did the Ferris Wheel Get Its Name?

The story behind the Ferris wheel name involves both George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. and inventor William Somers. In the early 1890s, Somers received a U.S. Patent for his “Observational Roundabout,” basically an early version of the Ferris Wheel. Somers placed three of the wheels – each 50-feet tall – at Asbury Park and Atlantic City in New Jersey, as well as at Coney Island in New York.

One of the riders on the Observational Roundabout was a man named George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. Originally from Illinois, Ferris graduated in 1881 from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, as a civil engineer. By 1893, he had created a company in Pittsburgh, Penn., called G.W.G. Ferris & Co., that tested metals for railroads and bridge builders and inspected finished works.

As fate would have it, the organizers of the World’s Columbian Exposition, set for May through October in 1893 in Chicago, hired Ferris & Co. to inspect exhibits. It put Ferris into contact with another important person in the creation of the Ferris Wheel, Daniel Burnham.

Why Was the Ferris Wheel Invented?

Construction of the Eiffel Tower began in 1887, ahead of the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. Built as the fair’s centerpiece, it also marked the centennial of the French Revolution.

Burnham, an architect who oversaw the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, wanted something as a centerpiece that would rival the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, no one among his team of engineers and architects had any workable ideas.

However, Ferris came to the exhibition with an idea of his own. His involvement with the exposition got him access to Burnham and his people. He told them about his inspiration – creation of a giant, revolving wheel that could carry passengers. Burnham gave the greenlight for the project, and Ferris went on to create the first Ferris Wheel, according to Smithsonian magazine.

The Ferris Wheel Becomes a Huge Hit

Ferris oversaw construction of the giant wheel in Pittsburgh, then had it shipped to Chicago. Once erected, the wheel stood 264 feet tall. The wheel rotated on a 45-foot axis – forged by the Bethlehem Iron Company – and had 36 cars that held up to 60 people. By today’s standards, the wheel turned very slowly, taking 20 minutes to complete two revolutions.

People absolutely loved it. During the exposition, it carried about 38,000 passengers daily. By 1906, the year that officials demolished the wheel, it had carried more than 2.5 million passengers.

The Ferris Wheel went on to become a staple of American life, seen at every carnival and state fair across the nation. Unfortunately, Ferris himself did not live to see it happen.

What Happened to George Ferris?

He became bankrupt after the end of the exhibition and became involved in a web of lawsuits. One involved Somers, who sued Ferris for copyright infringement. Ferris admitted in court that he rode the Observational Roundabout in 1892. Somers won the lawsuit, but lost on appeal.

Ferris filed his own lawsuit against organizers of the exposition for not giving him his part of the $750,000 (more than $25 million in today’s dollars) the Ferris Wheel generated during the exposition.

Ferris had borrowed $400,000 to build the wheel. He eventually moved the wheel to Lincoln Park in Chicago, but a nationwide depression (and opposition from people in the area to having a giant attraction near their neighborhood) led to the wheel losing money. Unable to make payments on his debts, Ferris declared bankruptcy. In 1896, he died of typhoid fever. The New York Times reported on March 8, 1898, that a Pittsburgh undertaker – still owed $150 for the engineer’s funeral expenses – continued to hold the engineer’s ashes.

The Ferris Wheel Today

For his part, Somers continued to build his own wheels, but the Ferris Wheel name stuck. Others followed, creating new wheels. The Ferris Wheel – while perhaps never rivaling the iconic status of the Eiffel Tower – is something still enjoyed by millions at summer fairs and on boardwalks around the world.

It’s also gone worldwide. London unveiled the London Eye in 2000, and some of the biggest wheels are now outside the United States, including the Singapore Flyer and the Star of Nanchang in Jiangxi Province, China. The largest wheel is now the Ain Dubai in Dubai, which stands 800 feet tall. It’s even slower than the first Ferris Wheel in Chicago – it takes a half hour to complete one revolution.

How Can You Rent a Ferris Wheel in Florida?

Fun Crew USA offers Ferris wheel rentals for festivals, corporate events, college events, fundraisers and other large gatherings throughout Florida. Our team handles setup and operation while working with event planners to make sure the attraction fits the available space and event requirements.

Ferris wheels are also available for TV and film productions, commercials, music videos and other projects that need the recognizable look of a carnival or fairground. See how TV and film productions use event rentals for more ideas on using Ferris wheels and other attractions on set.