The first Ferris Wheel rose over the Chicago World’s Fairin 1893 and was a big hit with the crowds. WhilThe first Ferris Wheel rose over the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 and was a big hit with the crowds. While smaller, transportable versions of this rotating observation ride soon became common at fairgrounds, the installation of really big, fixed wheels (sometimes deemed Giant Observation Wheels) didn’t start in earnest until the 1990s. The London Eye opened in 2000 and really got the trend, err, rolling (sorry!), and now it seems every big city is giving this crowd-pleaser a whirl. Melbourne, Australia joined the revolution in 2008 with its Star wheel. It carries 21 enclosed cabins, each with a 20-guest capacity, and rises nearly 400 feet above the docklands area of the city... See more See less
