You have probably ridden in a "pleasure wheel" at an amusement park, and felt its beauty, enjoyed its greatness, but did you wonder how someone got an idea to make something that beautiful? And why is that thing called a Ferris wheel?

It is said that the people manufactured forerunner of the original, today's Ferris wheel in 17th century in Europe and Asia. According to Pietro Della Valle, a Roman traveller during the Renaissance period, it officially existed in 1615, what we see from his letter from Constantinople, where he attended a Ramadan festival. Among the other entertaining things such as fireworks, floats and great swings, he also talked about riding on the Great Wheel.

This one was much smaller, made of wood, and usually made for 4 to 8 people who used to, according to some rare pictures, sit or stand and hold on a wooden construction. Since engines weren't invented, there was usually a strong man who used to turn large wooden rings.

On the other hand, original Ferris wheel was designed for a first time by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. for the 1893 World's Fair, which was held in Chicago. Since construction was not easy, it wasn't really finished for opening of fair, but it was officially opened on June 21st. Organizers of this event wanted something such spectacular and great that would rival the Eiffel Tower, what was made for previous World's Fair in Paris. The fair's chef architect, Daniel Burnham was disgusted by American architects because they were always failing to offer something new and spectacular. George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was a pleasant surprise for everyone who heard his idea, especially for Daniel Burnham. Stories about how and when he found an idea for this vary. Some say that he was planning this for a long time, but others say that he drew a sketch on a piece of napkin while he was on a dinner with Daniel. Either way, he accomplished his goal, what's the most important. It was almost impossible to make something that heavy and big in height. Luckily, with the assistance of everyone involved, and a big will for completing this, he succeeded. The wheel was build according to plans he had shown to fair officials.

The wonderwork was the following:

A wheel that reached 164 feet into the sky, held by two 140-foot steel towers, connected by a 45-foot axle, the largest single piece of steel ever made since then, and with an amazing circumference of 825 feet. Powered by two 1000 horse power steam engines, it became a real super machine. With 36 cars with the size of a bus and forty seats in each car, 1440 people on each ride had the privilege to enjoy the terrifying view of the fair from a whole new dimension.
In the end, after more than 1.5 million people carried, first and official Ferris wheel had a sad end. It was destroyed by dynamite, but that dynamite couldn't destroy a whole new picture of amusement parks for generations to come, with a Ferris wheel as an essential part.

Visit the Observation Wheel Directory to get a complete Ferris Wheel list along with a map of their locations worldwide.