The Big Brother To The Ferris Wheel
By Mark Flippo
Exhibit Statictics:
Initial Cost: 380,000 dollars
Admission Cost: 50 cents adults and children
Relocation Cost: 150,000 dollars
Modeled on a bicycle wheel, Pennsylvania bridge builder- George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., created the mammoth structure in Pittsburgh (sections were made at nine steel mills in Detroit, and in Cleveland and Youngstown Ohio,). With massive steel "forks" which held a 46 1/2 foot long, 70 ton axle (the largest piece of steel ever forged in the united States), the huge Observation, Wheel was 264 feet high. It carried 36 wooden passenger cars each holding a security attendant. Each car could fit 60 people standing or 40 sitting people. Two 1,000 horsepower steam engines powered the 4,200 ton monstrosity and an oversized air brake was used for stopping.
There were 50 marriage ceremonies on the great wheel, (one couple was married on horseback in one of the cars, while another pairing was married on top of one of the cars), they had a special car, complete with a piano designated for the Observation Wheel Car ceremonies. Though there were plans to move the 264 foot high Observation Wheel to Coney Island, New York, it was deemed too expensive to ship ; it was decided that on May 11th, 1906, Ferris' masterpiece would be toppled and sold for scrap. Their profit- 1,800 dollars. 100 pounds of dynamite was needed to do the job and collapse the monstrosity into a 90 foot-wide mass of wreckage.
What you create may not be a big money maker but you can impact the word in such a unique way that you will not be forgotten soon! The wheel was created over 111 years ago! And it still carries something strong in our history and our minds. And so will some of you!
http://moderndayparablesrcf.com
By Mark Flippo
Exhibit Statictics:
Initial Cost: 380,000 dollars
Admission Cost: 50 cents adults and children
Relocation Cost: 150,000 dollars
Modeled on a bicycle wheel, Pennsylvania bridge builder- George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., created the mammoth structure in Pittsburgh (sections were made at nine steel mills in Detroit, and in Cleveland and Youngstown Ohio,). With massive steel "forks" which held a 46 1/2 foot long, 70 ton axle (the largest piece of steel ever forged in the united States), the huge Observation, Wheel was 264 feet high. It carried 36 wooden passenger cars each holding a security attendant. Each car could fit 60 people standing or 40 sitting people. Two 1,000 horsepower steam engines powered the 4,200 ton monstrosity and an oversized air brake was used for stopping.
There were 50 marriage ceremonies on the great wheel, (one couple was married on horseback in one of the cars, while another pairing was married on top of one of the cars), they had a special car, complete with a piano designated for the Observation Wheel Car ceremonies. Though there were plans to move the 264 foot high Observation Wheel to Coney Island, New York, it was deemed too expensive to ship ; it was decided that on May 11th, 1906, Ferris' masterpiece would be toppled and sold for scrap. Their profit- 1,800 dollars. 100 pounds of dynamite was needed to do the job and collapse the monstrosity into a 90 foot-wide mass of wreckage.
What you create may not be a big money maker but you can impact the word in such a unique way that you will not be forgotten soon! The wheel was created over 111 years ago! And it still carries something strong in our history and our minds. And so will some of you!
http://moderndayparablesrcf.com