These changes brought the evolution of the Ferris wheel-a structural upright wheel with gondola like seats. The first Ferris wheel ever seen by the public was at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Ferris wheel was designed by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. who graduated from the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

1893 World’s Columbian Exposition

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Image via Wikipedia

The wheel rivaled the Eiffel Tower, the centerpiece of the 1889 Paris Exposition, which carried 2,160 persons. This famous wheel stood 250′ tall, held 36 gondola’s, and was powered by two steam engines. It took a mind-boggling 20 minutes for the wheel to make two revolutions. When the Columbian Exposition ended, the wheel was moved to the “St. Louis 1904 World’s Fair and was eventually destroyed by controlled demolition in 1906.”

The Singapore Flyer

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The Singapore Flyer located in Singapore stands 165 meters high and maintains the title of tallest and largest Ferris wheel in the world, at least until the construction of the Beijing Great Wheel and Great Berlin Wheel is finished. All 28 capsules are air conditioned and capable of holding 28 people each. It takes approximately 30 minutes for one entire revolution-rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. “The direction was changed on 4 August 2008 under the advice of Feng shui masters.”

The Great Berlin Wheel

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Beijing Great Wheel

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The Berlin wheel is presently under construction; however it will assume the title of tallest Ferris wheel in the world, reaching a height of 570 ft if it’s built before the Beijing Great Wheel which will stand 680 feet high.

“The wheel is being built by the Great Wheel Corporation. The groundbreaking ceremony was on 3 December 2007, and it is expected to be operational by the end of 2010.”

The London Eye

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

The London Eye was once known as the tallest Ferris wheel in the world until it was surpassed by the Singapore Flyer and Star of Nanchang. It remains’ the United Kingdom’s most popular tourist attraction, attracting millions of people ever year. The London Eye stands 135 meters high and is still described by machinists as “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel (because the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only).”

 The Eye made its soft opening in December 1999 by Tony Blair-Prime Minister. However, the wheel was not fully operational for the public’s enjoyment until March 2000 because of technical issues.

“During the bidding process of the 2012 Olympic Games, the London bid organizers announced the Olympic emblem would be attached to the Eye for the duration of the 2012 Summer Olympics.”

 The Texas Star

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The Texas Star is the largest Ferris wheel in North America, standing 212.5 feet high. The Star has 44 gondolas that hold 264 riders, and it travels “1.5 revolutions a minute with an average ride between 12–15 minutes. This is the most popular ride at the State Fair of Texas.” 

On a clear day, you can see the entire Fort Worth skyline from the top cars which is located 45 miles away. Let’s not forget the red, white, and blue turbolites that were fashioned until 2007, replaced by a LED lighting system in 2008.

Grande Roue de Paris

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The Ferris wheel of Paris was built in 1900 for the Paris World Exhibition and stood 100 meters high. During the 1930’s  the cars were converted into “homes for French families in the regions devastated by the World War.” The wheel was then completely demolished in 1937 to make room for industry.

The Star of Nanchang

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The Star of Nanchang stands 160 meters high and is located in the Chinese city of Nanchang, The official opening was in May 2006, costing a hefty sum of $7.3 million. The Star has 61 comfortable climate-controlled cars, each with the ability to carry up to 8 passengers, for a maximum capacity of 480 passengers. One complete revolution takes close to 30 minutes, allowing the passengers ample opportunity to take pictures and to dismount in a secure fashion.

The Southern Star

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The Southern Star is the located in the capital city of Victoria, Australia and is used as an observation wheel at the Waterfront City precinct at Melbourne Docklands in Melbourne.

This particular wheel is the only “permanent observation wheel in the Southern Hemisphere and is 120 m (390 ft) high, the equivalent of a forty storey building.” The steel columns were manufactured in Tasmania and the wheel originated in the Greater Melbourne suburb of Dandenong. The construction was similar in form to the London Eye standing 135 feet high.

Unfortunately, due to some harsh weather, the wheel suffered some major damage and is currently not functioning-pending repairs.

Tianjin Eye

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The Tianjin Eye is the only wheel to be constructed directly over a bridge. Located on the Chihai Bridge over the Hai River in Tianjin, China, this amazing structure has 48 cars( 768 passengers), and completes a revolution in 30 minutes.