George Ferris and the Ferris Wheel

George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. was an American engineer that won a contest to try and out do the Eiffel Tower. The contest was for the World's Columbian Exposition which was a fair in the late nineteenth century. Having the rotating wheel for the public to "ride" so that they were able to view the entirety of the fair at one time marks one of the first times metal was used for leisure.

The Ferris Wheel was a big hit that ended up taking in around $750,000 in revenue. That is a lot of money now, so to bring that much in in the 1893 is astronomical. 

The Ferris Wheel now is at every carnival big and small. There are some that are even worldwide known. The one above is the famous one that resides on the pier in New jersey. It was shown many times throughout the reality television show "Jersey Shore". The on below is more widely known, however, not in a good way. This is the Ferris Wheel from Chernobyl. There was a nuclear power plant that had an explosion leading to the disaster and radiation levels that have left the place a ghost town. This is widely known impart that it is in many video games including Call of Duty. 

I'm sure Ferris would be incredibly impressed to know that his architecture art is now worldwide and enjoyed by millions of people. I remember as a little kid being overwhelmed with excitement when going to a fair, when i would see the Ferris Wheel breech the horizon in the distance.