Why don't we have Worlds Fairs anymore?

Because we have the olympics every two years. Say it's only 281 days until the winter olympics!

What's the world's largest ferris wheel? Currently the British Airways London Eye is 443 tall, built in 1999. But Las Vegas plans to put a 560 foot wheel in the middle of its casino-lined main strip. And then Shanghai plans to build a 660 foot Ferris wheel.

Wha? The Olympics have been around much longer than any Worlds Fair ...

That is nuts. The ferris wheel at Navy Pier is pretty tall, but it's crazy to think that the one at the Columbian Exposition was the FIRST one and it was crazy tall.

Have you guys read "Devil in the White City"? Excellent documentary of the 1893 fair, from conception to completion. It'll give you a whole new perspective on Hyde Park!

Thanks for the recommendation, Chrissy! I'll be sure to check it out. I have recently become totally fascinated by the whole concept of World's Fairs.

I just picked up "Devil in the White City" :^D I'm looking forward to reading it! Thanks again for the recommendation, Crissy!

worlds fairs are the ultimate partys...i worked at the expo 92 in seville, spain, and again in 98 in lisbon, portugal...i just read the white city book...it is remarkable how that the fairs remane much the same...

I recently finished reading The Devil in the White City. That book is nothing but a non-fiction history book. but reads like a fictional novel.

I am interested in the Columbian World's Fair bacause Daniel Hudson Burnham, protagonist in the White City book and who was the chief architect over the Fair, designed a mansion in San Jose that I am now renovating. cheif ),

Has anyon here read "Fair Weather" by Richard Peck? Such a capital book! Pick it up and read,now!

wow are you serious? I mean I didnt even know

Y'know how there have been discussions about revamping Navy Pier? I'm a big fan of this discussions seeing as the N.P. is the biggest tourist attraction in Chicago (and Illinois for that matter). Currently the N.P. is simply a giant shopping mall with really bad stores. I guess it's fun for kids. Though the views of Chicago from the N.P. are worth the trip for any tourist. The walk INSIDE the N.P. is embarrassing for any Chicagoan.

there's been talk recently that they will trash the current ferris wheel and build one the same size as the 1893 ferris wheel.

For as much as we like to rip on Navy Pier, there are some fun stores in Navy Pier. I like the game store. The 3D movie theatre is a bit expensive for the short films they show, but that's kinda fun. The stained glass gallery is an odd fit as it tries to give the place some class, but doesn't quite acheive it with the large amounts of traffic walking through.

One of the most successful things they could add there is a video arcade. That place is just overflowing with kids and teenagers. A video arcade would just be bonkers.

you guys should have been at expo 98 in lisbon, portugal...they had this place called ADRENELINA near the north entrance that had extreme bungy jumping, a SONY TV 8 stories high, and at least 50 outdoor full on party bars operating over 12 hrs. a day 7 days a week for 6 months!!!

anyone know about Expo 08 in Zaragoza, Spain? supposedly they have a water slide over 300 ft.tall and you reach speeds of 75 mph plus....
one man was killed during tests in september....

The wheel is set in motion at a more rapid pace, though still not very fast, and is not stopped until a complete revolution is made. It is an indescribable sensation, that of revolving through such a vast orbit in a bird cage, that of swinging in a circle far out over the plaisance in one direction, then turning in the other direction, and still higher, and finally beginning the descent from such a great height. People wonder what would happen if the pinions which hold the cars through their roofs should break, or refuse to revolve. They wonder how they would get down if the machinery should break and the engineer be unable to further revolve the wheel, thus leaving them dangling in mid air. While they are thinking of these things the movement ceases, then starts up again, and finally it becomes their turn to step out on the wooden platform and down again to mother earth.

I guess it's fun for kids. Though the views of Chicago from the N.P. are worth the trip for any tourist.

For as much as we like to rip on Navy Pier, there are some fun stores in Navy Pier. I like the game store. The 3D movie theatre is a bit expensive for the short films they show.

The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel is a great spot to view the city from. You can slowly rise up over the city and have gorgeous views of both Lake Michigan and the city skyline.

hey i was wondering about the first ferris wheel i am doing a project on it and was wondering if you knew any thing if you do please email info i would be very happy thank you

i think this ferris wheel is bigger than the navys ferris wheel

November 23, 1893

One morning at the World's Fair, I ventured on the Ferris wheel in the Midway Plaisance. After looking out widely for a while, my eyes fell with interest on the red roofs and not unpleasing effects of the academic halls of Chicago University. The day I left Chicago, before going to the station, I strolled over the university grounds. They had a disordered unrestful appearance and I contrasted them unfavorably with the beautiful repose of the Princeton Campus. Some of the buildings were still unfinished and all of them too new. Yet here, thought I, is the beginning of a great institution that is destined to eclipse many an older foundation. I place my foot upon its threshold. I touch its lintels with humanity!
Edwin Manners

A MI ME GUSTA LOS HUEVOS CON CHORIZO.!!

The ferris wheel posted above is awesome!

jumar lumaton
jumong ongoy

You guys are fags!!!!!! Devil in the White city blows

Loved to read your blog. I would like to suggest you that traffic show most people read blogs on Mondays. So it should encourage bloggers to write new write ups over the weekend primarily.
regards
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The ferris wheel was invented in order to "out-eiffel" the eiffel tower in the 1893 exposition in Chicago. There was a real sense of competition-that Chicago's main attraction be greater than what Europe had offered-it was a technological wonder-the fact that it was so huge and actually worked.

I can' believe I am the first person to comment in over a Year! Yes, it is 2011.

And now I'm the second person to post in 2011. Spudart, thanks for the beautiful Ferris Wheel comparison pictures, this was exactly what I was looking for when I made my query. Incidentally, I loved Devil in the White City. t made me think very differently about the enormous amount of work that goes into any event of that size. I almost wish I had been alive to actually see such an amazing spectacle.

Devil in the White City is awesome book, almost done with it today, then taking the amtrak train from ST Louis to Chicago with the wife and kids (yes, i will return with them too) for the weekend!

What's crazy is that each one of the carts in the 1893 Ferris Wheel, held 60 people. It's like each cart was a bus!

Post response to "Beneficial Associates-Sept 07,07 getting stuck-
By reference - The NYC East River(Roosevelt Island) tram got stuck on April 18,2006, NYFD rescue baskets retrieved all 69 passengers over a 12 hour period. By comparison, the tram is 250 feet high, vs 140 ft diameter for the ferris wheel (tram is about the height of a 25 stories building and suspended on a single cable, no structure to climb) It travels at 17mph for about 5 minutes with incredible views of Manhattan, UN building etc, above the Queensboro (Koch / 59th street) bridge. As a result of the "incident" The system was rebuilt over 9 months after carrying 27 million people and now each gondola carries 100 people and emergency, blankets, food, baby food, water and portable toilet with privacy curtain. Seeing pics of the rescue effort was freightening.

A ferris wheel rescue would be a lot easier and safer