The One Of A Kind Carousel Park In Oregon That's Perfect For Your Next Family Adventure
By Catherine Armstrong|Published March 30, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
One of the best things about Oregon is its people. Our communities come together to help each other, both in times of need, and in good times too. Many of the people in the town of Albany have donated thousands of hours to create a special treasure for everyone to enjoy. Have you seen the Historic Carousel & Museum?
Welcome to the Historic Carousel & Museum! Inside this brick building is the most magical, whimsical carousel ever, along with a museum that showcases some beautiful, historic pieces of carousel history.
You'll find it at 503 W. 1st Ave., Albany, OR 97321.
The museum has 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 finest craftsmanship you'll ever see.
Check out the carousel! It's an ongoing project that will eventually have 52 different, brightly-colored animals. In addition to the typical horses, you'll find all kinds of whimsical beasts, from unicorns to dragons.
Each animal is a true labor of love. 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. So far, volunteers have donated more than 160,000 hours to this project.
When you visit, you can see the process firsthand. Check out the studio, where animals are in various stages of carving or painting. Each one has an artistic rendering to provide inspiration and guidance...
...and once it's done, it takes its place on the carousel to be enjoyed by visitors! Volunteers are always welcome here, and mentors will teach you how to carve and paint. No experience is necessary; just bring your enthusiasm.
Click here for more information about volunteering at the Historic Carousel & Museum.
The carousel itself is truly beautiful. 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.
The carousel consists of three rows of animals, and will soon have 52 installed. The outside row consists of "standers," which are stationary. The middle and inner rows have smaller creatures, which will are "jumpers" - those that move up and down. The museum will also create replacement and seasonal animals that will rotate. There will always be something new to see here!
Admission to the museum is free, and carousel ride tokens are $2. The carousel is open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. It's closed on Tuesdays.
Make sure to check out the Historic Carousel & Museum’s website, and follow on Facebook to see what’s new there. Have you visited or donated your time here? We’d love to hear about your experience with this magical carousel!
