The Fantastic Ferris WheelThe Fantastic Ferris Wheel

"The World's Fair in Chicago, 1893, was to be a spectacular event: architects, musicians, artists, and inventors worked on special exhibits to display the glories of their countries. But the Fair's planners wanted something really special, something on the scale of the Eiffel Tower ... Engineer George Ferris had an idea--a crazy, unrealistic, gigantic idea. He would construct a twenty-six-story tall observation wheel. The planners didn't think it could be done. They called it a 'monstrosity.' It wouldn't be safe. But George fought for his design. Finally, in December 1892, with only four months to go until the fair, George was given permission to build his wheel"--