The Original Ferris Wheel Had Only One 20-Minute Ride Per Day
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. unveiled his 80-meter-tall wheel at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, carrying 2,160 passengers in 36 wooden cars. A single revolution took 20 minutes, and the wheel ran just once daily to allow safe boarding. It was later dismantled and melted for scrap.
💡 Fun detail:
Each car was the size of a city bus and featured upholstered benches, plate-glass windows, and even a concert piano.
Source: Smithsonian