Most great landmarks are born out of government, business, or the arts. The London Eye's parents were the advertising and tourism industries, and turns under the logos of its corporate sponsors. The people behind the scenes bristle if you call it a Ferris wheel. They prefer the term "observation wheel" because of the great views from inside and presumably to distance themselves from the notion that Ferris wheels are only for the very young. Whatever you call it, the London Eye is the largest one in the world, at 450 feet and weighing 1,600 tons. Unlike earlier wheels that relied on trusses and braces for strength and stability, the Eye uses six kilometers of steel cables imported from Italy to achieve the same rigid shape with much less mass. Still, a steel frame is at the core, and was built in The Netherlands. Other parts of the wheel were manufactured in the Czech Republic, and Germany. Because of its size and urban location, the wheel was actually assembled over the River Thames, then hoised upright upon completion. But in spite of the huge amount of planning involved, things didn't go as smoothly as organizers would have hoped. People were supposed to be able to ride on New Year's Eve, 1999. But safety concerns and problems with a clutch mechanism kept the capsules sealed to the public. People were finally allowed to experience the magnificent views in March of 2000, three months late. Thanks to the modern media, and the turn-of-the-century celebration held December 31, 1999 that was broadcast around the world, the London Eye has become at least as famous as another landmark Ferris wheel: the Prater in Vienna. However, it took more than 100 years for the Prater to secure its mark in history, while the Eye did it in just a few months. Still, only the Prater has been featured in a James Bond movie ("The Living Daylights"). Look for that to change, as the London Eye is likely too tempting a landmark for the British superspy to resist.

• In October, 1999 two Spanish environmental protesters climbed the wheel and spent two days in its girders.
• In August, 2000 a Dave Rolstone of Wales climbed up the Wheel to protest United Nations economic sanctions against Iraq.
• On 20 December, 2000 Kurds and Turks angry about how a series of prison riots in Turkey were handled took over the wheel. The riots were sparked by the burning deaths of a number of prisoners on hunger strike. Some of the protesters doused themselves with gasoline and threatened to set themselves on fire

Photograph courtesy John A. Butler.

Photograph courtesy John A. Butler.