George Ferris Gets A Google Doodle For Valentine’s Day

By Chris Crum · February 13, 2013 · 52 Comments

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George Ferris Gets A Google Doodle For Valentine’s Day

Google has begun showing a doodle on its home page in parts of the world where it’s already February 14th. The doodle honors George Ferris, an American engineer famous for creating the original Ferris Wheel for the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition.

February 14th is, of course, Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated in many countries around the world. And what says love like a ride on the Ferris Wheel?

The doodle is interactive, as they often are. You can push the heart button over and over again to match up different animals who appear to be going out on different kinds of dates. This video Simon Rüger sent us shows some of the different match-ups, as well as the animation:

Once you click the search icon in the doodle, you’ll be taken to search results for George Ferris, including Google’s Knowledge Graph panel for him:

It’s actually a good example of when the Knowledge Graph improves the search experience, beyond offering info about the subject. In this case, we see the option to view results for a different George Ferris – the cricketer.

The Ferris that’s the subject of the Google Doodle died in 1896.

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There are 52 Comments. Add Yours.

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chris eccleston
February 13, 2013 at 5:27 pm

give it to me george ferris rawr (chucknorris)

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jasmine kupenga
February 13, 2013 at 5:29 pm

sooooooo cute <3

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TG
February 13, 2013 at 5:46 pm

Forever alone wolf, lol.

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Angela
February 13, 2013 at 6:01 pm

great job!Lovee it!

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Ardi Pradana
February 13, 2013 at 6:14 pm

Great job on the video, that’s a lot of combinations to go through

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jayden
February 13, 2013 at 7:29 pm

no

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lol ur fat
February 13, 2013 at 7:33 pm

lol ur fat

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Melissa
February 13, 2013 at 8:20 pm

Today’s google display was a joy. Really, really enjoyed tabbing through the romance scenarios. Brilliant idea. That was so cute. Loved the scenarios. My favourite being the tortoise and the hare.

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Chiti
February 13, 2013 at 8:41 pm

Nice n Cute..like Rabbit and dolphin…

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hari
February 13, 2013 at 8:43 pm

Cool
~~God Job~~

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jrran90
February 13, 2013 at 9:14 pm

Thumbs up to google..
Happy valentines day to all..

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pooja
February 13, 2013 at 11:36 pm

Its too……….Cute

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db
February 14, 2013 at 12:23 am

I knew this would happen once gays were allowed to marry. Now anything can get romantic with anything else and everybody is accepting and thinks it’s “cute”. A frog and a bird? Really, Google?!

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  A
  February 14, 2013 at 2:04 am
  
  I hope this comment is a joke…
  It’s a cartoon doodle–Lighten up!
  
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Flo
February 14, 2013 at 12:32 am

I love Google Doodles,, especially the one for Valentines Day 2013!

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teri
February 14, 2013 at 12:33 am

Darling, thank you for a sweet Valentine doodle.

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Raymond Baron
February 14, 2013 at 12:40 am

According to my Wife her Great Great Uncle Mr. William Somers of Atlantic City, NJ built the first ride in 1893 and issued a patent 5 years before Mr George Ferris was issued his patent in 1898. Mr Somers built his from wood and Ferris built his from steel. Please follow this link: http://www.patentmuseum.com/patents_l.asp?Thumb=036_2_sm

Maybe one day it will be renamed to the “Somers Wheel” in honorof it’s original inventor

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kClaire Santry
February 14, 2013 at 1:02 am

Why would Google allow this * AD to run and deface the ferris wheel Valentine/Love/Animal interactive…which kids might enjoy…

* AD – this is the advertisement that kept flashing on my screen during the ferris wheel interactive love presentation:
ALERT – CLICK HERE TO SEE YOUR ARREST NOTIFICATION (paraphrased)
Why doesn’t Google CONTROL SUCH GARBAGE which interfers with a child’s
game?

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  s
  February 14, 2013 at 2:30 am
  
  because its cute. if you cant appreciate what google is teying todo the use another site and shut up!
  
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Disgusted
February 14, 2013 at 1:14 am

WTF is google thinking pairing a frog and a bird together. The world is freaking going nuts. When I click the button and time after time it’s seperate species paired with each other, there is absolutely nothing I can relate to in that. If they wanted animals why not two Bears, or two birds? What is the point they are trying to make? It’s not relatable, its not cute….so what is the point in showing a bird getting romantic with a frog?

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  alex
  February 14, 2013 at 4:38 am
  
  I have a feeling it is to support diversity in relationships. It’s just cute animals. In a way I see it like a black person dating a white person, or a gay couple, because society usually shuns those sort of relationships. I like that they used different animals, personally!
  
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  jeff
  February 14, 2013 at 11:22 am
  
  SHUT UP YOU MISERABLE AND IDIOTIC PEOPLE WHO CARES WHAT CARTOON ANIMALS ARE WITH WHAT CARTOON ANIMALS. DO YOU REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS TO b**** ABOUT NON-SENSE? MAKES FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF WHEN I RUN INTO THESE COMMENT PAGES…
  
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Vivienne
February 14, 2013 at 1:25 am

In terrible poor taste …. the rabbit handing a CAPTIVE dolphin a DEAD fish … really … where have you guys been that you don’t know the outrage this will spark amongst activists who are fighting to STOP dolphins being held captive for human entertainment … every day more of these sentient beings are being brutalised in Taiji … really poor taste Google, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

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  Jenny
  February 14, 2013 at 2:47 am
  
  I don’t think Google was making a commentary on animal rights. Besides, would you prefer the rabbit to offer the dolphin a living fish to eat instead? There’s nothing wrong with predator animals eating their prey.
  
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  jeff
  February 14, 2013 at 11:17 am
  
  you seriously need to get a life. You miserable person.
  
  Reply
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Felica Fillus
February 14, 2013 at 1:29 am

MEOW- sista . . . NOW -ANIMALS CAN INTERMINGLE . . . AND GO A COURTING !

PHICK- yeah . . . i guess it gives a NEW meaning for ‘taking one OUT for din-din ‘ . . . I thought i saw on some religious channel . . . that ST. VALEN-TIME’S DAY was about a man who was martyred for his BELOVED FAITH!

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Mohini
February 14, 2013 at 1:42 am

The toad and the bird really cute!

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  gupta
  February 14, 2013 at 6:00 am
  
  even the elephant thing is fantastic
  
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Austin
February 14, 2013 at 1:51 am

I don’t know if the others on here are seriously trolling or just have yet to grow up and see past the face value of certain items but this Google doodle is brilliant! What a great way to pair two quite bold items. Just like the article writes, romance is often associated with a ferris wheel ride. I picture these scenarios as more than just animals mingling, perhaps if these over zealous others would take a moment they could delve deeper than trashing the work of someone else. Love isn’t always about meeting your replica, your clone, that wouldn’t be too terribly fun, but about the adventures you go through to meet your love as well as the ones you share together. Grow up and look past the animals as being just animals, it is okay to use a bit of creative thinking. Peace <3

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antonis
February 14, 2013 at 1:56 am

really cutelove it lol

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morena
February 14, 2013 at 3:49 am

Was well done, but I do agree, If it were 2 animals of the same kind it would make more sence to me…. Happy Valentines Day everyone

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John
February 14, 2013 at 3:52 am

Great! Love all the clicks in the Google Ferris, Good mind working all the time! Love it!

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Alli
February 14, 2013 at 5:41 am

You people are reading way to much into this, it’s cute animal video thingy. Just watch and have fun and don’t analyze it please!

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Lisa C
February 14, 2013 at 5:57 am

Brilliant! If you have ever read The Devil in the White City it describes how George Ferris had a vision for the World’s Fair, it later became known as the “Ferris Wheel”. Loved the scenarios, especially the lone wolf/t.v. combo. Thanks for a cute doodle!

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gupta
February 14, 2013 at 6:02 am

its really amazing creativity…awsum video for valentine’s day

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Wendy Melton
February 14, 2013 at 6:05 am

LOVED IT! Thanks for being so creative!

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Antonio
February 14, 2013 at 6:09 am

Where did he find the idea? From water mulin?

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Peter
February 14, 2013 at 6:41 am

The idea probably came from Syracuse NY where the first Ferris Wheel was built in 1848 for the state fair.

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Lc Moore
February 14, 2013 at 6:56 am

Nice:)

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Liz
February 14, 2013 at 7:23 am

HAPPY ❤DAY:)

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  LEE
  February 14, 2013 at 9:17 am
  
  U 2
  
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pAULETTA
February 14, 2013 at 10:16 am

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! also how can some people comment with negativity about this.
DONT u get it??? Y cant we all get along no matter if we r different??? This is exactly y the world is in such a disarray!!! Really!!!

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ABABA RBOERTO JOJO
February 14, 2013 at 12:27 pm

valentine’s day is good to lover who dose not qurall in there afair

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  Kayli
  February 14, 2013 at 2:22 pm
  
  stfu
  
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Kayli
February 14, 2013 at 2:21 pm

That is awesome

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Kayla
February 14, 2013 at 2:22 pm

Thats f***ing amazing ♥

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  Kayli
  February 14, 2013 at 2:24 pm
  
  Yes!:D
  
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Kayli
February 14, 2013 at 2:23 pm

This is the day that the V and the D come toghter !:D

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  Kayla
  February 14, 2013 at 2:24 pm
  
  Ohh yess nana (:
  
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    Kayli
    February 14, 2013 at 2:25 pm
    
    YEahhhhh ;o
    
    Reply
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      Kayla
      February 14, 2013 at 2:25 pm
      
      Stfu and lets do work !!!
      
      Reply
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Krzysiek
February 14, 2013 at 4:43 pm

Nie rozumiem was !!!!!!!!!

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