Oregon Has An Entire Museum Dedicated To Carousels And It's As Awesome As You'd Think
By Sarah McCosham|Published December 30, 2021
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There’s something so joyful about carousels. These whimsical rides are pure nostalgia, harkening back to a simpler and more wholesome time. In Oregon, there’s an entire museum dedicated to carousels, and it’s just as awesome as it sounds. The Historic Carousel & Museum in Albany is a unique space celebrating all things carousels, and it’s an only-in-Oregon experience that’s a whirlin’ good time!
This is the Historic Carousel & Museum in Albany, Oregon. Inside this beautiful brick building, built in 2017, is the most magical, whimsical carousel ever, along with a museum celebrating this classic carnival ride.
Creating carousel animals takes an incredible amount of time and artistry, a process that's on full display here. Volunteers spend as many as 1,500 hours carving, and another 800 hours of painting, to complete just one carousel creature. These gorgeous works of art can cost as much as $5,000 apiece.
The museum also features displays of many items loaned by the Dentzel family -- the first creators of American carousels. These animals were carved and painted in the late 1800s, and they're highly detailed, with some of the most intricate artistry and craftsmanship you'll ever see.
The main event, of course, is the carousel... and it's magical. It's an ongoing project featuring dozens of brightly-colored animals. In addition to the typical horses, you'll find all kinds of whimsical creatures, from unicorns and dragons to lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!).
The carousel is open for rides, and it truly is a modern marvel. It's powered by a 1909 Dentzel Carousel Corporation mechanism that was donated to the museum by the National Carousel Association and Bill Dentzel, great-grandson of the founder of the Dentzel Carousel Corporation.
What's so wonderful about a carousel is how it can bridge the gap between generations. These rides are something all ages can enjoy and experience together.
Have you visited this carousel museum in Oregon before? Did you even know Oregon *had* a carousel museum? Sound off in the comments below! And learn more about this only-in-Oregon attraction at the Historic Carousel & Museum website.
