National Ferris Wheel Day

National Ferris Wheel Day celebrates the birthday of George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. and his iconic invention that has become a symbol of amusement parks worldwide.

Quick Facts

When is it?: February 14th annually
Tagged as: Entertainment & Cultural Holiday
What’s the hashtag?: #FerrisWheelDay #NationalFerrisWheelDay
When was it founded?: 1893 (Original Ferris wheel debut)
Who founded it?: Created to honor G.W.G. Ferris Jr.

History

The Ferris wheel debuted at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago as America’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. The original wheel stood 264 feet tall, featuring 36 cars that could hold 60 passengers each, and cost approximately $400,000 to construct. Over 1.4 million people rode the wheel during the exposition.

Timeline

1859: G.W.G. Ferris Jr. born in Galesburg, Illinois
1881: Ferris graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1893: First Ferris wheel debuts at World’s Columbian Exposition
2014: High Roller opens in Las Vegas as America’s tallest Ferris wheel

2025 Dates

Year	Month	Day
2025	February	14
2026	February	14
2027	February	14
2028	February	14
2029	February	14

Observed

The day is celebrated worldwide at amusement parks, fairs, and tourist attractions featuring Ferris wheels.

Fun Facts About Ferris Wheels

The High Roller in Las Vegas stands 550 feet tall
The original wheel carried over 2,000 people at once
The first wheel’s parts were later used to build the USS Illinois
The original wheel cost 50 cents per ride

Quiz

Who invented the Ferris wheel?
How tall was the original Ferris wheel?
Where was the first Ferris wheel displayed?
-(Answers: 1. G.W.G. Ferris Jr. 2. 264 feet 3. Chicago World’s Fair)