National Ferris Wheel Day

The annual observance of National Ferris Wheel Day is February 14th. George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., Jr., the man who invented the Ferris Wheel, is the holiday. Gale Ferris, Jr., Jr., is the man who invented the Ferris Wheel. Jr.

Preparations for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition began in earnest in 1891. Daniel H. Burnham, the fair's Director of works, set out the challenge: create a centerpiece to the show that would rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The Eiffel Tower, which had been constructed the year before, became a world attraction. Ideas were tossed about, plans were presented, and plans were rejected.

Gale Ferris, a Washington, Washington, was inspired by George Washington Gale Ferris' inspiration. He considered several options, but he didn't know he'd been considering multiple options until one evening in a Chicago chophouse that he hit on a challenge that might not have been accepted. He started planning after sketching out the idea on napkins.

Burnham balked when told of the theory, fearing that it could safely carry people to such heights. Ferris persisted. He invested $25,000 of his own money, hired engineers, designed the 250-foot diameter wheel, and hoisted it up between 140-foot twin towers, earning $600,000 more from investors, hired engineers, built the 250-foot diameter wheel, and hoisted it up between 140-foot twin towers.

It was a colossal success at 26 stories high and grossing $726,805.50. That was a hefty profit for the fair in 1893...

Ferris failed after the fair despite the wheel's success. Law suits have been filed against who owes who bankrupted him. He was left by his wife. n 1896, just a few years after the fair, he died at the age of 37. typhoid fever was at its peak in 1896.

The original wheel of a similar fate. It was destroyed with dynamite for scrap metal in 1906. The Ferris Wheel lives on, and we continue to enjoy wheels around the world.

Around the world, wheels around the world are turning around the globe

The Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel in Tianjin, China, is built over a bridge spanning the Hai River
In London, the Thames River is overlooked by the London Eye
From 1918 to 1920, the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company built the ever-popular Wonder Wheel of Coney Island in New York City
at on the Niagara Skywheel in Canada, take your breath away watching Niagara Falls from a seat on the Niagara Skywheel in Canada

How to celebrate #nationalferriswheelday..

re near a Ferris Wheel, take a lift to the top and enjoy the view. If you are near a Ferris Wheel
Share a snapshot of your view from the Ferris Wheel's top. a zillion wheel
Read a book about the Ferris Wheel. Ferris Wheels: An Illustrated History by Norman Anderson, Observation Wheels: A Guide to the World's Largest Ferris Wheels by Nick Weisenberger, or Robert Lawson's The Great Wheel. Observation Wheels by Norman Anderson
Invite someone to join you and share the tale. It's the most effective way to #CelebrateEveryDay, as you can see
Share your favorite Ferris Wheel on social media using the hashtag #NationalFerrisWheelDay to post on social media

History of national ferris wheel day in the United States

We've been around and around about the sources of this day's inventions. We know it honors the Ferris Wheel's designer, but we have yet to identify the day's narrator.