The History of the Carousel

The carousel is also popularly known as a merry-go-round and is a popular gentle ride located in any amusement park. It consist of a rotating circular platform that contains wooden animals, mostly horses, that can be mounted while gears make them move as though they were galloping. Occasionally there are chairs that will be attached to the carousel for riders to just sit on and enjoy.

The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella ("little battle"), used by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen in the 12th century and can be dated back in the Byzantine empire in 500AD with just rotating chairs. Can you believe that it would also be used as a training device for warriors back in the day? The carousel eventual replaced jousting in the mid 16th century as a non combat form of entertainment.

By the early 19th century carousels were being built and operated at various fairs and gatherings in central Europe and England. Animals and mechanisms would be crafted during the winter months and the family and workers would go touring in their wagon train through the region, operating their large menagerie carousel at various venues.

Early carousels had no platforms: the animals would hang on poles or chains and fly out from the centrifugal force of the spinning mechanism; these are called "flying horses" carousels. They were often powered by animals walking in a circle or people pulling a rope or cranking. By the mid-19th century the platform carousel was developed where the animals and chariots would travel around in a circle sitting on a suspended circular floor which was hanging from the centre pole. The first known recorded Steam powered carousel was created by Thomas Hurst and shown at Bolton New Year Fair in 1861.

The first carousel to be seen in the United States was created in Hessville, Ohio during the 1840s by Franz Wiesenhoffer. The first carousel patent was granted on July 25, 1871, to Willhelm Schneider of Davenport, IA. Several centers and styles for the construction of carousels emerged in the United States, Philadelphia style, with Dentzel and the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Coney Island style with Charles L.D. Looff, Charles Carmel, Marcus Charles Illions, Soloman Stein and Harry Goldstein and Mangels, Country Fair style with Allan Herschell and Edward Spillman of western New York, and Charles W. Parker of Kansas.

Today the carousel is one of the most popular rides for those who enjoy gentle rides. Its fun for all ages and families come together to experience it. It has been around for many many years and seems to still be popular even to this day.