We were talking about a book Melanie is reading about the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas by Columbus. A centerpiece of the exposition was the huge Chicago Wheel 264 feet high. I love science and technology. The idea of this giant wheel being the first Ferris wheel fascinated me. Rotating wheel rides have been around since the 17th century. They were known as 'pleasure wheels'. George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. secured the patents for the larger metal concept which came to be known as Ferris wheels. Ferris was born in Galesburg, IL, in 1859. That is not far from where I grew up. The family moved to Nevada when he was six. He attended college at California Military Academy in Oakland, CA where he graduated in 1876. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 1881 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He started work in the railroad and bridge industry. Upon moving to Pittsburgh, he started a company to test metals used in the rail and bridge industries. Join me below to read more about this engineering marvel and the exposition of 1893.
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