Farris Wheel

Natalie Williams

11/22/08 5th period

The Ferris Wheel

Essay

The first Ferris wheel was 264 feet high. It could hold over 2000 people and took 20 minutes to go around 2 times. The Ferris wheel was created by George Washington Gale Ferris.

George Washington Gale Ferris went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research university located in Troy, New York. Mr. Ferris majored in civil engineering while attending college. After graduating from college, he held a job building bridges. In order to build bridges, you have to be good at bridge drawing. He also built tunnels. In order to build tunnels, you have to be good at measurement and math.

George was married to Margaret Ann Betty. Along with the mayor of Chicago at that time, Mr. Ferris, Mrs. Ferris, and several other guests were the first to ride the Ferris wheel. Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Gale Ferris did not have any children.

The first Ferris wheel was built in Chicago, Illinois. It was built for the 1893 World's Fair, to help celebrate the 4ooth anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. The first Ferris wheel was demolished. Today, you can see Ferris wheels at many parks and fairs. There are over 20 Ferris wheels that are taller than 100 feet in the world now. The Ferris wheel, now Star of Nanchang, is the tallest in 2008. Another Ferris wheel is the Singapore Flyer in Singapore.

A Ferris wheel can be compared to a wheel on a bike, with seats on it that goes around slowly. Over