July 25, 2023 – Carousels

Happy National Carousel Day! Today commemorates the first U.S. patent issued in 1871 for the modern carousel! Carousels have been around for much longer than that, though. It emerged from early jousting traditions in Europe and the Middle East. Knights would practice for battle by riding in a circle while tossing balls to one another, which required great skill and horsemanship. The game eventually started being played by commoners and carousels began popping up at fairgrounds all over Europe.
By the early 18th century, the rides were being built and operated and fairs in central Europe and England. Early carousels didn’t have a platform. Instead, the carved animals hung by chains and flew out from the centrifugal force of the spinning mechanism. It wasn’t until 1861 that the steam-powered carousel was invented and they became what we’re familiar with today. Gears and cranks were added to platform carousels to make the animals move up and down. Electric light and motors were also eventually added.
Here in the U.S., the carousel was developed by immigrants in the 19th century, notably Gustav Dentzel from Germany and Charles Dare from England. We have a historic Dentzel menagerie carousel at Ontario Beach Park. It’s one of only 14 operating antique menagerie carousels in the United States. The oldest operational carousel can be found in the Netherlands and was built in 1865. Learn more here.