Ferris wheel Facts for Kids (2024)

A Ferris wheel on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, US

A Ferris wheel (sometimes called a big wheel, observation wheel, or, in the case of the very tallest examples, giant wheel) is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger cars, cabins, tubs, capsules, gondolas, or pods) attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, they are kept upright, usually by gravity.

Some of the largest modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on the outside of the rim, with electric motors to independently rotate each car to keep it upright. These wheels are sometimes referred to as observation wheels and their cars referred to as capsules, however these alternative names are also used for wheels with conventional gravity-oriented cars.

The original Ferris Wheel was designed and constructed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. as a landmark for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The generic term Ferris wheel is now used for all such structures, which have become the most common type of amusem*nt ride at state fairs in the United States.

Since the original 1893 Chicago Ferris wheel there have been nine world's tallest-ever Ferris wheels. The current record holder is the 167.6-metre (550ft) High Roller in Las Vegas, US, which opened to the public in March 2014.

Observation wheels

Observation wheel is an alternative name for Ferris wheel. In 1892, when the incorporation papers for the Ferris Wheel Company (constructors of the original 1893 Chicago Ferris Wheel) were filed, the purpose of the company was stated as: [construction and operation of] "...wheels of the Ferris or other types for the purpose of observation or amusem*nt".

Some Ferris wheels are marketed as observation wheels, any distinction between the two names being at the discretion of the operator, however the wheels whose operators reject the term Ferris wheel are often those having most in common with the original 1893 Chicago Ferris Wheel, especially in terms of scale and being an iconic landmark for a city or event.

Wheels with passenger cars mounted external to the rim and independently rotated by electric motors, as opposed to wheels with cars suspended from the rim and kept upright by gravity, are those most commonly referred to as observation wheels, and their cars are often referred to as capsules. However, these alternative names are also sometimes used for wheels with conventional gravity-oriented cars.

Only four Ferris wheels with motorised capsules have ever been built.

The Singapore Flyer has 28 cylindrical air-conditioned passenger capsules, each able to carry 28 people

The London Eye's 32 ovoidal air-conditioned passenger capsules each weigh 10 tonnes (11 short tons) and can carry 25 people

The 167.6m (550ft) High Roller, world's tallest since March 2014, has externally mounted motorised capsules of a transparent spherical design, and is described as both a Ferris wheel and an observation wheel by the media.

The 165m (541ft) Singapore Flyer has cylindrical externally mounted motorised capsules and is described as an observation wheel by its operators, but was also credited as "world's largest Ferris wheel" by the media when it opened in 2008.

The 135m (443ft) London Eye, typically described as a "giant Ferris wheel" by the media, has ovoidal externally mounted motorised capsules and is the "world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel" according to its operators, who claim "The London Eye is often mistakenly called a Ferris wheel. This is not the case: first, the passenger capsules are completely enclosed and are climate controlled; secondly, the capsules are positioned on the outside of the wheel structure and are fully motorised; and third, the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only." However the Singapore Flyer subsequently billed itself as the "world's largest observation wheel", despite being supported on both sides, and the official londoneye.com website also refers to the London Eye as "Europe's tallest Ferris wheel".

Southern Star (now Melbourne Star), tallest in the Southern Hemisphere, in 2008

The 120m (394ft) Melbourne Star (previously the Southern Star) in Australia has ovoidal externally mounted motorised capsules and is described by its operators as "the only observation wheel in the southern hemisphere", but also as a Ferris wheel by the media.

Official conceptual renderings of the proposed 190.5m (625ft) New York Wheel, due to begin construction in 2015, also show a wheel equipped with externally mounted motorised capsules.

Images for kids

  • High Roller, in Las Vegas, Nevada, world's tallest operational Ferris wheel between 2014 and October 2021

  • Magic-City, Paris, France, 1913

  • William Somers' Wheel, installed 1892, immediate precursor to the original Ferris Wheel

  • The original Chicago Ferris Wheel, built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition

  • The 94m Great Wheel at Earls Court, London, world's tallest Ferris wheel 1895–1900

  • The 96m Grande Roue de Paris, world's tallest Ferris wheel 1900–1920

  • Artist's impression of the 175m Great Berlin Wheel, a project originally due for completion in 2008, but which stalled after encountering financial obstacles

  • SkyWheel Helsinki, formerly known as Finnair SkyWheel, is the only Ferris wheel in the world with a sauna in one of its gondola cabins.

  • Indoor Ferris wheel in Toys-R-Us, New Yor City

  • Big O, a 60-metre (197ft) tall centreless wheel at Tokyo Dome City in Japan

  • Roue de Paris, a Ronald Bussink R60 transportable wheel, at Geleen in the Netherlands in 2005

  • Hermann Eccentric Ferris Wheel with sliding cars, from US patent 1354436, 1915; forerunner of the 1920 Wonder Wheel, there is no record of it ever being built

  • Wonder Wheel, a 45.7-metre (150ft) tall eccentric wheel at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusem*nt Park, Coney Island, was built in 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company

  • Disney California Adventure's Pixar Pal-A-Round, an eccentric wheel modelled on Wonder Wheel, was built in 2001 as Sun Wheel and became Mickey's Fun Wheel in 2009 and currently Pixar Pal-A-Round in 2018

  • Cosmo Clock 21, world's tallest wheel 1989 to 1997

  • Ruota dei Pionieri, Minitalia Leolandia Park, Italy (manufactured by Zamperla)

  • Four-car 30m tall drive-in Ferris wheel at Harbourfront, Toronto, Canada, in 2004

  • A wheel constructed by the Swedish contingent at the 21st World Scout Jamboree

  • Passenger-powered 2-seat Cyclecide wheel at the 2007 Bumbershoot festival in Seattle

  • Ferris wheel in the Park Divo Ostrov, St. Petersburg

  • Bay Glory in Bao'an Seashore Cultural Park, Shenzhen, China, in 2021

See also

Ferris wheel Facts for Kids (29) In Spanish: Noria (atracción) para niños

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Ferris wheel Facts for Kids (2024)

FAQs

What are some facts about the Ferris wheel for kids? ›

Fun Facts about the Ferris wheel and its inventor:

The Ferris wheel was originally called the “observation wheel.” It was meant to provide a bird's eye view of the entire city. The wheel was not actually completed for a month and a half after the fair officially started. The Ferris wheel cost approximately $750,000.

How old is the oldest Ferris wheel? ›

The original Ferris wheel, sometimes referred to as the Chicago Wheel, was designed and constructed by Ferris Jr. and opened in 1893; however, an earlier wheel was created for the New York State fair in 1854, created by two Erie Canal workers.

What is a Ferris wheel seat called? ›

The seats people sit in when riding a Ferris wheel are termed as a cabin. Although this term is commonly useful for Ferris wheel seats, its not all cabins are identical.

How long does a Ferris wheel last? ›

During Summer operations with larger crowds, we typically have ride times between 12-20 minutes. During Winter operations with smaller crowds, we typically have ride times between 10-15 minutes. But as always, every ride is three full revolutions of the wheel.

What is a fun fact about the Ferris wheel? ›

The first Ferris Wheel has a connection to Columbia!

As it turns out, the wheel was created as a landmark for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago! The exposition was designed as a corporate fun day to make a show of Chicago's burgeoning businesses, celebrating the state's culture and wealth.

How does a Ferris wheel work for kids? ›

It's all about gravity

While it is the job of special gears and motors to pull the wheel up, it is gravity that plays the biggest part in bringing the wheel back down again. This gives the Ferris wheel its well-known rotating motion. This is why the Ferris wheel is not just a beautiful ride, but a fun one!

What is the biggest Ferris wheel ever? ›

The Dubai Eye is the world's largest Ferris wheel. It opened in 2021 on tiny Bluewaters Island in the Arabian Gulf. If conditions are right, expect spectacular views of the Dubai Marina and the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The Dubai Eye can hold up to 1,750 passengers total, and up to 40 in each cabin.

How did the Ferris wheel get its name? ›

Yes. It's named after its inventor, Pittsburgh bridge builder George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., who unveiled the first Ferris wheel to the world at the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893.

What is the longest Ferris wheel ride? ›

CHICAGO — An employee of Chicago's Navy Pier has met his goal, breaking the record for the longest Ferris wheel ride and bringing the record to the birthplace of the amusem*nt park favorite. Clinton Shepherd spent 48 hours, 8 minutes and 25 seconds riding Navy Pier's Ferris wheel over the weekend.

Who invented the Ferris wheel for kids? ›

The man who invented the Ferris Wheel for the Chicago World Columbian Exposition in 1893 grew up in Carson City. Ferris arrived in Nevada in 1864 at the age of five.

What is the biggest Ferris wheel in the US? ›

High Roller is a 550-foot tall (167.6 m), 520-foot (158.5 m) diameter giant Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. Owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, it opened to the public on March 31, 2014 as the world's tallest Ferris wheel.

How safe are ferris wheels? ›

Ferris wheels like all amusem*nt park rides are subject to inspection, but it seems most accidents occur as a result of rider poor judgment or inability to sit still. Every ferris wheel should have some type of restraint, or there is a persistent risk of a fall.

Is the first Ferris wheel still standing? ›

Although the original Ferris Wheel was demolished, a new wheel lives on in Chicago at Navy Pier in Chicago, with structural similarities and inspiration from Ferris's original wheel.

Does a Ferris wheel rotate? ›

A typical Ferris wheel rotates at a constant speed (unless stopping to let passengers off). But velocity is speed with a direction vector attached to it, so velocity is changing every second. Your bodies' “apparent” weight varies depending on the place you are on the ride.

What are some facts about the first Ferris wheel? ›

It measured 250 feet in diameter, and carried 36 cars, each capable of holding 60 people. More than 100,000 parts went into Ferris' wheel, notably an 89,320-pound axle that had to be hoisted onto two towers 140 feet in the air. Launched on June 21, 1893, it was a glorious success.

What are some fun facts about the first Ferris wheel? ›

It measured 250 feet in diameter, and carried 36 cars, each capable of holding 60 people. More than 100,000 parts went into Ferris' wheel, notably an 89,320-pound axle that had to be hoisted onto two towers 140 feet in the air. Launched on June 21, 1893, it was a glorious success.

When were Ferris wheels invented facts for kids? ›

Ferris wheels have been turning for more than 130 years, the first one constructed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, designed by George Washington Gale Ferris.

How old is the Ferris wheel? ›

The world's first Ferris wheel was invented for Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893.

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