The Carousel Museum

Bristol, Connecticut

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A couple of weeks ago, when I was extolling the virtues of having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, on that list I forgot to add one item that was particularly important to me in childhood.

Mainly, that we lived just 3 miles away from an actual amusement park filled with roller coasters, water rides, dodgem cars, miniature train rides, and, of course, carousels.

From top left: The entrance arch; the "Rock-O-Plane"; the rocket cars; and the carousel.

The park went out of business when I was 13. I didn’t notice when I was a kid how ratty it was and clearly in its final days. It was as wondrous as the city of Oz, for all I cared.¹

Well, Oz with popcorn balls. Yum.

Yep, you can still buy them from the original manufacturer.

So, perhaps you can understand how lost I was in a reverie of days gone by when Jenni and I wandered about The Carousel Museum, another fabulous place filled with carefully restored and displayed examples of the most American of crafts, tended to by, yep, volunteers.²

This is a spectacular display, found in a restored factory building in Bristol that includes an amazing and broad collection. It also hosts a restoration workshop where carousel figures from around the world receive the care required to return them to purpose.

While the wood carving talent and the painters’ precision were noticeable with the horses, I found myself particularly interested in the non-equine figures due to their rarity.

Pictures are better for demonstration, though. Here are some of my favorites:

Only a portion of the main hall

A collection of equine and non-equine poses.

Even carousel art can teach the classics. In this case, Leda and the Swan from Greek mythology.

Sneaky faces appear in surprising places.

A collection of non-equine figures.

One forgets that panels from the upper portion of the carousel were also works of art.

Two examples of rare "centaur" figures. The founder of the Boy Scouts on the left, a prominent general on the right.

An example of how well-traveled some of the pieces have been.

The bluebird does not seem thrilled while in the cat's mouth.

Of course, there is a small working carousel that offers free rides [for the summer] for children.

A very serious craftswoman at work in the restoration studio.

A couple of band organs, used in accompaniment to the small portable carousels of earlier times.

What we found remarkable was that the artistry was so precise that each figure had its own personality.

“Remember to turn right at the zebra” is an example of the instructions one receives upon entering.

Things parents/grandparents want to know:

Address: 
95 Riverside Ave. Bristol, CT

Hours: 
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: Noon - 5 PM

Admission: 
Adults $15.00
Seniors (65+) and Students with ID $10.00
Children (age 0 - 12) $5.00

🅿️: An adequate, free lot is located in front of the building.

There are bathrooms and they are clean.

Yes, this was a great visit. Thanks for reading and we’ll visit another place, maybe two, next week.

And now, enjoy The Woodpecker Song as played on a 19th century Wurlitzer band organ, complete with horns and percussion. [Yes, they restore these, too.]

1. It was even the setting for an episode of the TV show “Route 66” [Season 2, episode 27].

2. So far on this tour we’ve visited just two of the small museums in Connecticut and the absolute love of the volunteers fills both facilities.