Big Eli Wheel #17
County: Morgan
Location: Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Park, on
the corner of Main and Morgan Streets.
Erected: 09/24/1989 Erected by:
Save the Wheel Commission and The Illinois State Historical Society
'I have discovered the machine I want to design and build, a portable
'Ferris Wheel'', W.E. Sullivan, 1893. A young man's dream became
reality when W.E. Sullivan, of Roodhouse, Illinois, designed and
built a small, portable, revolving wheel, patterned after the 'Ferris
Wheel' at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He called
his invention, 'Big Eli.' On May 23, 1900, in the square of downtown
Jacksonville, 'Big Eli' a 45' high 'wheel' made of twelve structural
steel 'spokes' with carriage seats at their extremities, and
supported by a steel axle, offered rides to all who dared to
'revolve' in the bridge-like contraption. It grossed $5.56 that day.
'Big Eli #17' thrilled crowds at amusement parks in Duluth, MN;
Leavenworth, KS; San Antonio, TX; Guaymas, Mexico; and, Miami, FL. In
1957, #17 returned home to the Eli Bridge Company for renovation.
Originally built with 10 seats, #17 was converted to a '12-seater'
and sold to the Jacksonville Rotary Club. Rotary installed #17 in
Nichols Park and operated it there until increased insurance costs
forced its closure in 1985. In 1986, the Rotary Club donated the 'Big
Eli #17' to the City of Jacksonville. With the assistance of Eli
Bridge Company, and private donations, the structure was renovated
and re-erected at its present site. Big Eli #1 stands in the front
yard of the Eli Bridge Company.
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