George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.
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| Born | February 14, 1859 |
| Died | November 22, 1896 (aged 37) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
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| Education | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1881) |
| Occupation | Civil engineer |
| Known for | The original Chicago Ferris Wheel and the Ferris wheel concept |
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. (born February 14, 1859 – died November 22, 1896) was an American civil engineer. He is famous for inventing the very first Ferris Wheel. This amazing ride was built for the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, a big world's fair.
Early Life of George Ferris
George Ferris was born on February 14, 1859. His hometown was Galesburg, Illinois. This town was named after his relative, George Washington Gale. His parents were George Washington Gale Ferris Sr. and Martha Edgerton Hyde. George also had an older brother named Frederick.
In 1864, when George was five years old, his family sold their dairy farm. They then moved to Nevada. For two years, they lived in a place called Carson Valley.
From 1868 to 1890, George's father owned the Sears–Ferris House. This house was located in Carson City, Nevada. It was originally built around 1863 by Gregory A. Sears. The house is now a historic landmark.
George Ferris Sr. was an expert in farming and gardening. He helped develop Carson City. He was known for planting many trees throughout the city in the 1870s.
George Jr. left Nevada in 1875. He went to the California Military Academy in Oakland. He finished there in 1876. Later, he studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He graduated in 1881 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was part of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He also joined the Rensselaer Society of Engineers. In 1998, he was added to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Hall of Fame.
George Ferris started his career working with railroads. He was very interested in building bridges. He even started his own company called G.W.G. Ferris & Co. This company was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It tested metals for railroads and bridge builders.
The Ferris House was his home in Pittsburgh. It is located at 1318 Arch Street. This house was named a historic structure in Pittsburgh on June 28, 2001.
The Famous Ferris Wheel
George Ferris heard about the World's Columbian Exposition. This big fair was planned for 1893 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1891, the fair's leaders wanted something special. They challenged American engineers to create a monument. It had to be even better than the Eiffel Tower from the 1889 Paris fair. They wanted something "original, daring and unique."
Ferris had a great idea. He suggested building a giant wheel. Visitors could ride it and see the whole exhibition from above. He said his wheel would "out-Eiffel Eiffel."
Ferris came back a few weeks later with support from other engineers. The committee agreed to let him start building. He also found local investors. They helped pay the $400,000 cost to build the wheel.
The first Ferris Wheel had 36 cars. Each car had 40 spinning chairs. It could hold up to 60 people at once. This meant 2,160 people could ride at the same time. When the fair opened, about 38,000 people rode it every day. A ride took 20 minutes for two full turns. The first turn had six stops for people to get on and off. The second turn was a nine-minute non-stop ride. A ticket cost 50 cents. The wheel carried 2.5 million passengers before it was taken down in 1906.
After the fair ended, Ferris felt cheated. He believed the fair's management kept money that belonged to him and his investors. The wheel made almost $750,000 in profit. He spent the next two years in court fighting for his share.
Later Life and Death
George Ferris Sr., his father, passed away in 1895. George Jr. died soon after, on November 22, 1896. He passed away at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died from typhoid fever, a serious illness. His ashes stayed at a crematorium in Pittsburgh for over a year. No one came to claim them for a long time.
See also
In Spanish: George Washington Gale Ferris para niños
