Wheel King (Dancing Queen - ABBA)
Ferris Wheel
Ferris Wheel
Wanted to be called observation wheel
The first time he turned in his blue print it was denied
He was inspired to create the Ferris wheel
By a guy named Micheal Valenti
At the World Colombian Exposition
They denied him because they thought it would be too dangerous
He wasn't very famous before he created his invention
But that would all change soon
$750,000 they stole at the exposition
and portioned it for themselves
They are as greedy as a cat with their food
But that wasn't enough to make him fear
George created the wheel on June 21, 1893
People didn't trust him so he bought a $25,000 blueprint
Oh yeah
To prove them wrong and let him make his invention
He took 6 months to create it
His invention made it all over the world
It was even added into Disneyland
After they stole from George he fell into dept
The workers started to sue George for not having enough money to pay them
He died 3 years after her created the wheel on November 22, 1896
He died because of thyroid fever
He was so young when he dead he was 37
He was as young as a sprouting flower
The Extravagant Origin of the Ferris Wheel
Introduction
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. was an accomplished man. He was determined to achieve his goals and that's exactly what he did in his life. He had many setbacks while trying to create the world's first Ferris Wheel but he still managed to change the world significantly. Some of these setbacks were when he turned in his sketch to get it approved by the professionals, he was declined because the experts thought that the wheel was a bad idea and that it would just collapse because of its weight. He was a challenging, intelligent and creative individual that created the most famous carnival ride in the world. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. had an interesting story about how and why he created the Ferris Wheel. He was fortunate to have the opportunity he did such as going to engineering school and getting to speak to Micheal Valenti. Micheal was an important person in his life that gave him the inspiration to why he created the Ferris Wheel and changed Ferris’s life forever.
Early Life
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. had a busy childhood. He was born on February 14, 1859, in Galesburg, Illinois. “The town was founded by his grandfather George Washington Gale” (Krivyanski). His parents, George Ferris Sr. and Martha Edgerton Hyde Ferris, got married on September 18, 1886, and they were married for 10 years. George Ferris Sr. was born on May 14, 1818, and died on April 14, 1895. George Sr. died 10 years into the marriage which is why it was so short. Martha Ferris was born on October 20, 1820, and died on March 23, 1897. His parents, George Sr. and Martha had 11 children; George being the second youngest. His older siblings in order are Mary E, Albert, Frederick, Benjamin, Harriet, Margaret, California, Edward, Martha, George Jr, and lastly Mary A. In 1864, the family relocated to Carson City, Nevada, where George Sr. helped landscape the new state capital. “California was out of reach at the time, so the family settled on a ranch near Carson City” (Ferris). Ferris and his family lived on a farm helping their father landscape. “After the family moved to Riverside, California, in 1880, Ferris went to the California Military Academy” (Ferris Wheel Inventor Historical Marker.) The school he chose is a significant event that impacted the person he became when he was older. He chose an engineering school which helped him get the opportunities to sketch and create his idea. He accomplished many eventful things in his early life.
Beginning of Career
Michael Valenti influenced George to become the person he was. As Michael Valenti stated in Mechanical Engineering, the structure had to be original, daring, and unique. “They asked American engineers to create a monument that could surpass the Eiffel Tower” (Krivyanski). On May 1, Ferris started brainstorming how he could create something unique and original as Michael described. That evening, he sketched a revolving observation wheel and planned to show his sketch to the committee the next day. He imagined two large parallel circles connecting a strut that revolved around a steel axis. The wheel would pick up and drop off passengers in railroad-style cars that move them in circular rotations. The committee did not like his idea and thought it was unrealistic and too expensive due to its enormous size, but Ferris was “ determined to get his design approved by the committee” (Ferris). They also didn’t accept his idea because it was unsafe and would be a hazard because of how big and heavy it would have to be. “ The planners feared his design could not possibly be safe” (George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.). Ferris decided that he wasn’t going to give up on Michael's advice to never give up and don't let people stop you and wanted his idea to come true. He had to change his sketch so the committee would even consider his idea and allow him to start the building process. Ferris wasn’t famous when he entered the field of engineering but that would soon change when he finally got his idea approved.
Career Accomplishments
George became famous because he created The Ferris Wheel. It was significantly difficult for him to get his idea approved. Many people thought that his invention would be hazardous. “The planners believed any design for a rotating wheel over the ground would cost too much” (Krivyanski). Once they finally approved his invention he needed to find the money to pay the cost of the Ferris wheel. “ … he had recruited several local investors to cover the $400,000 cost of construction” (George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.). His peers were skeptical and thought that the wheel might crash and fall so Ferris spent $25,000 of his own money to buy a blueprint and prove his peers wrong. “ Ferris built a power plant with two 1,000-horsepower reversible engines” (Ferris Wheel Inventor Historical Marker). While Ferris was constructing and creating the Ferris wheel he was robbed. Ferris stated that the exhibit robbed him; they had stolen the Ferris Wheel and the investors portioned the $750,000 profit that his wheel brought in among themselves. George was facing bankruptcy after he built the Ferris Wheel because he overestimated the cost of his creation. He started to get tangled in debt lawsuits because he owed his suppliers and the fair. He was so focused on how to create his sketch and wasn't thinking about the cost and because the exhibit robbed him which is why after he built the Ferris Wheel, he was in debt. This was a real setback for Ferris. He didn't let these little problems while building his creation stop him from achieving his goals; and that's exactly what he did.
Conclusion
George and his invention have impacted people all around the world by making an enjoyable experience for fairs, carnivals, theme parks and more. He changed the perspective of fairs, carnivals, and many more for many people and created a fun and exciting environment for everyone. It has made such an impact that it was even added into DisneyLand. The Ferris Wheel has even made it into many popular American movies. The Ferris wheel has become an enjoyable and exciting experience for amusement seekers. The Ferris wheel has also made it to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world such as London, Las Vegas, Dubai, and more, where one Ferris Wheel reaches more than 800 feet tall. “ …The chief of construction, Daniel H. Burnham, challenged the prominent civil engineers to create a structure that would become a rival to the Eiffel Tower…” (Ferris). He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to create his sketch. “His peers were skeptical because of all its weight, so Ferris ended up spending $25,000 of his own money” (Ferris Wheel Inventor Historical Marker). After the World Columbian Exposition, the Ferris wheel was dismantled and moved to North Clark Street in Chicago. “It was then sold to St. Louis Missouri” (Krivyanski).
George created the most famous ride in the entire world. He invented so many happy memories for families to have. George passed away shortly after the first Ferris Wheel was demolished at the “World's Columbian Exposition” (Ferris Wheel Inventor Historical Marker). “In November 1896, a few months after George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.'s wife left him, he died” (Krivyanski). He passed away from typhoid fever. Typhoid fever was common and contagious at the time. After he died, he was cremated and is now contained in a Hall of Fame Museum. George certainly was intelligent, creative, innovative, and determined to achieve his goals. George used his intelligence and creativity to his advantage because he was able to take an opportunity and turn it into an amazing and creative invention.
Work Cited
“Ferris.” Ferris | Pennsylvania Center For the Books, The Pennsylvania State University 2023, pabook.libraries.psu.edu/ferris__george.
“Ferris Wheel Inventor Historical Marker.” ExplorePAhistory.com, Bureau for Historic Preservation, 2023, explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-35D.
“George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.” FAM people.com, FAM people.com, 18 May 2023, fampeople.com/cat-george-washington-gale-ferris-jrGeorge.
Krivyanski, J. Michael, “George Washington Gale Ferris Jr: Inventor of the Ferris Wheel”, Owlcation, The Arena Media Brands, 29 Sep. 2023, owlcation.com/humanities/George-Washington-Gale-Ferris-Jr-Inventor-of-the-Ferris-Wheel.