Sara L. Latta - Who Invented the Ferris Wheel?. George Ferris

COOL INVENTION!

LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE RIDDEN ON FERRIS WHEELS, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO INVENTED THE FIRST ONE? LEARN ABOUT GEORGE FERRIS' LIFE AND THE FIRST FERRIS WHEEL EVER BUILT. MAKE YOUR OWN MINIATURE FERRIS WHEEL, TOO!

"IMAGINE SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS GIGANTIC WHEEL THAT YOU COULD RIDE, ALMOST TOUCHING THE CLOUDS AND SEEING THE GROUND AS SOARING BIRDS WOULD. KIDS WILL LOVE TO READ ABOUT GEORGE FERRIS' BIG WHEEL."

"EASY-TO-READ AND INFORMATIVE, THIS SERIES MIGHT INSPIRE SOME FUTURE INVENTORS."

About the Author

Author Sara L. Latta lives and writes about science and medicine from her home in Illinois. She has a BA in Microbiology, an MS in Immunology, and an MFA in Creative Writing.

inventorA person who makes something new for the first time, or thinks of a better way to do something.

spokeA thin rod or wire that connects the outer part of a wheel to the center.

waterwheelA large wheel that is turned by the water flowing against it.

worlds fairA fun event where countries from around the world share their way of life.

George Ferris lived from 1859 to 1896.

Up, up, into the sky! Around you go, and down! A ride on the Ferris wheel can be fun. Do you like to ride the Ferris wheel? If you do, you can thank its inventor. His name was George Ferris.

George Ferris had the idea for the first Ferris wheel.

George Ferris grew up in Nevada. He helped out on his familys ranch. Sometimes he took a rest from his work. He liked to watch the big waterwheel. The wheel turned in the river near his home.

Some people say that Ferris got the idea for his invention from a waterwheel.

George Ferris went to college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Ferris left the ranch to go to school. He learned how to build train tracks and bridges. Soon he became very good at building big things that were strong.

George Ferris built bridges in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1890, Ferris heard about a contest. People were planning a worlds fair in Chicago, Illinois. They wanted something different that would bring people to the fair. Ferris had an idea.

The 1893 World's Fair in Chicago

Ferris wanted to make a big wheela REALLY big wheel. It would be as tall as a 25-story building. It would be strong, like his bridges. It would have spokes, like a bicycle wheel. People would ride in cages on his big wheel.

Spokes like the ones on a bikes wheel would hold the Ferris wheel together.

Many people said that it would not work. But no one had a better idea for the fairs contest. So Ferris and his team worked hard to build the wheel. In June 1893, Ferriss big wheel was finished.

The first Ferris wheel had 36 cars. Each car could hold 40 people.

Who would take the first ride on the amazing Ferris wheel? The men who helped build it! After the wheel made its first turn, one of the men said, I could have yelled aloud for joy. People lined up for a ride.

From the first ride, people loved the Ferris wheel.

From the top of the Ferris wheel, people could see for miles. They saw the nearby lake. They even saw other states! The wheel had thousands of lightbulbsanother new invention. The bright wheel lit up the night sky. Many said it was the best thing at the fair. Today, Ferris wheels still make people happy. George Ferris would be proud.

At the top, people can see things far away!