The story of the Ferris wheel, first invented for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, is a prime example of human ingenuity in urban environments, which happened to be the theme of our most recent photo contest. Congrats to contest winner Chris Fabregas, who captured this shot of human ingenuity in action on the Santa Monica Pier in California. Santa Monica debuted its Ferris wheel here in 1996 and then adapted it two years later to make it the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel, using clean energy for the ride that propelled about 800 passengers an hour. In 2014 it was replaced with a newer version that sports 174,000 LED lights, providing for glittering nighttime scenes just like this.
Ingenuity in action on the Santa Monica Pier
Today in History
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Christmas Bird Count
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There once was a lighthouse from...
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Saint Dwynwen s Day
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The artists come to Venice
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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A medieval celebration in the Mediterranean
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Don t go chasing waterfalls
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King of the dinosaurs
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Serra de Tramuntana, Majorca, Spain
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With leaves this tasty, who cares about a view?
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Cheese! We ll go somewhere where there s cheese!
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World Wildlife Conservation Day
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A water loch-ed castle
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A day of service for Dr. King
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World Rainforest Day
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Goats don t grow on trees
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Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
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A Flag Day tradition
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A meerkat stands alone
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Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
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Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
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An uncommon look at an American icon
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Brotherly cubs
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It s Computer Science Education Week
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Great on so many levels
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World Childrens Day
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Winterpret on ice
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I m here! Take a look at me!
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The Cordillera de la Sal in the Cordillera Domeyko Range of Chile
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Endangered Species Day