Searching for 1893 Chicago in India often brings up three main topics via search engines. One centers on Swami Vivekananda, who delivered a memorable speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions that year. The other two topics relate to the same event but focus on secular achievements. The Parliament coincided with the World’s Columbian Exposition, also called the Chicago World’s Fair, held from May to October 1893. It was there that the Ferris wheel first appeared.
An Eiffel-sized challenge
In late 1890, architect Daniel Burnham faced the difficult task of transforming a square mile of Chicago into an impressive spectacle. The 1889 Paris World’s Fair had featured the Eiffel Tower, setting a high standard. Burnham gathered leading designers and urged them to produce striking ideas, yet the initial proposals fell short. During a meeting with engineers, he expressed his disappointment. One attendee was 33-year-old Pittsburgh engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.
Huge revolving steel wheel
Responding to the demand for something novel and bold, Ferris proposed a massive revolving steel wheel. He prepared drawings and details, though Burnham initially worried about structural safety. Earlier smaller wooden versions existed, but Ferris aimed for a much larger scale suited to the expected crowds. He secured investors, contributed his own funds, assembled a team, and performed safety tests. In December 1892 the design was approved. The structure contained over 100,000 parts, two 140-foot towers, and a 40,000-kilogram axle. It measured 250 feet in diameter and carried 36 cabins, each holding 60 passengers.
The first ride included Ferris, his wife, city officials, and a band. On June 21, 1893, the wheel began daily operation from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Views like never before
More than 1.4 million riders paid 50 cents each over 19 weeks for a 20-minute, two-revolution trip offering unprecedented aerial views. Although financially successful for the fair, Ferris faced lawsuits over debts. Stress and typhoid fever led to his death at age 37 in 1896. His invention, however, keeps his name known today.
Science behind these wheels
A Ferris wheel follows the same structural principles as a bicycle wheel, with the lower half supporting the load. Ferris applied circle geometry and trigonometry, principles still used today. Smooth operation relies on centripetal force, gravity, and torque. Riders experience rotational dynamics and changing apparent weight: lighter at the top and heavier at the bottom. Slow rotation keeps the ride comfortable. The ride combines geometry, trigonometry, and physics, though passengers rarely consider these forces.
The London Eye effect
Since the original success, Ferris wheels of many sizes have appeared worldwide.
