TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In celebration of 200 years, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute honored one invention an alumnus made that has left an enormous mark on history. It's a carnival and fair staple... the ferris wheel!
George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. graduated from RPI in 1881 and later invented the ferris wheel in 1893. Chris Letchford, a professor and head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at RPI, has been studying the ferris wheel for years. He said he believes George was inspired by a water wheel in Troy.
“He got the idea from riding a couple of smaller wheels in new jersey and new York but his design was unique in the sense that it became a bicycle wheel rather than a cart wheel," said Letchford.
The idea for this invention also came after the Eiffel Tower was created in Paris.
"It all started with the Paris Exposition of 1889 when Eiffel built his Eiffel Tower," said Letchford. "They wanted something to out-Eiffel the Eiffel Tower."
Professor Letchford said when the ferris wheel was made, it shocked the world.
“And when people first saw it, they were amazed, 'how does this thing stay up in the air it looks like a spiderweb holding it together,'” said Letchford.
The original ferris wheel was 260 feet high, which is nearly 200 feet higher than the one RPI had on campus Friday. Professor Letchford said the largest ferris wheel used to be 880 feet in Dubai, but that one isn't operating anymore. The next highest one is in Las Vegas, standing at 550 feet tall.
“So there's a big outer ring that's in compression, pushing together, and then the tension cables pull it together like a bicycle wheel and that was unique, in the past it was like a cart wheel these spoke were very heavy," said Letchford.
Since its invention, the ferris wheel has become a fan-favorite ride across the world and a crucial part of RPI's history.
“It’s an emblem of the quality of the engineering talent that comes out of a place like RPI," said RPI President Martin Schmidt.
"The ferris wheel became the most popular amusement ride in the country, and indeed around the world, and its lead to a whole range of other types of amusement structures," said Letchford.
The carnival held at RPI on Friday included games and dozens of food vendors for students and faculty to enjoy. It will be open to the public on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
