Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
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__NOTOC__ Herschell Carousel Factory Museum is a historic carousel
factory A factory, manufacturing plant or a production plant is an industrial facility, often a complex consisting of several buildings filled with machinery, where workers manufacture items or operate machines which process each item into another. ...
building located at North Tonawanda in
Niagara County, New York Niagara County is in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 212,666. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word ''Onguiaahra''; meaning ''the strait'' or ''thunder of waters''. Niag ...
. The factory complex was constructed between about 1910 and 1915 and consists of six primary structures and five contributory additions. The primary structures are: the Mill Building (ca. 1910), Carving and Pattern shop (ca. 1910), Paint Shop and Storage Building (ca. 1915), Roundhouse (ca. 1915), Machine Shop (1915), and Assembly and Testing Building (1915). Also on the property is the Special Number One Three Abreast portable carousel, built in 1916. ''Note:'' This includes an
''Accompanying 13 photographs''
/ref> At one time four carousel builders operated in North Tonawanda. The
Allan Herschell Company The Allan Herschell Company specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines that could be used by traveling carnival operators. It was started in 1915 in the ...
, and its predecessor the Herschell-Spillman Company, was the most notable of them and operated from 1876 to 1959. The company produced wooden carousels into the 1930s. The Allan Herschell Company also built other amusement devices. Kiddielands were specialized parks for children, which included rides such as Kiddie boats and helicopters. Starting in the 1930', the company began building adult rides, such as the "Twister," the "Hurricane" and the "Sky Wheel," a double Ferris wheel nearly 90 feet tall. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1985 as the Allan Herschell Carousel Factory. Nearby is located the Herschell–Spillman Motor Company Complex, listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 2013. The museum occupies the original Herschell factory site on Thompson Street. It was first open to the general public in 1984, with a full operational carousel from 1916. Renovations included reconstruction of the original roundhouse and roof repairs. Other projects included restoring the original office building into an Education Center, and developing the Kiddieland Testing Park. The first floor of the factory has been opened up to provide exhibits and demonstrations. These areas are split into: The Carving Floor; The Wurlitzer Music Department; The Paint Shop; The Jeanette E. Jones Children's Gallery; The Roundhouse; and The Loading Dock. Two operating carousels give visitors first hand experience of the magical ride and authentic band organ music. The Jeanette E. Jones Children's Gallery presents interactive learning activities, and is available for rentals. Different programs are offered, such as woodcarving of various skill levels, guided tours, and a summer lecture series. The Wurlitzer Music Department is home to over 10 historic band organs and features the only functioning Wurlitzer Perforator still in existence. The museum still operates this equipment and produces bad organ rolls from Wurlitzer's rolls list. The museum also has an award winning education department, including winning the 2016 Hodgson Russ Excellence in Collaboration Award. The museum currently offers virtual and in-person educational programs for schools, after school programs, and youth organizations. The offerings vary in subject, from lessons on the history of the Erie Canal to physics on the Carousel. File:HerschellCarrouselFactoryFaceOn.JPG, Paint shop and storage File:Old Amusement Ride, Herschell Carousel Factory Museum.jpg, Retro Skyfighter
kiddie ride A kiddie ride - or kids' ride - is a coin-operated amusement ride for young children. Kiddie rides are commonly available in amusement parks, arcades, malls, hotel game rooms, outside supermarkets and discount department stores. Less commonly ...
File:RetroAutomobileKiddieRideHerschellCarrouselFactoryMuseum.JPG, Retro automobile
kiddie ride A kiddie ride - or kids' ride - is a coin-operated amusement ride for young children. Kiddie rides are commonly available in amusement parks, arcades, malls, hotel game rooms, outside supermarkets and discount department stores. Less commonly ...


See also

* Allan Herschell 3-Abreast Carousel,
Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara ( es, Santa Bárbara, meaning "Saint Barbara") is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Co ...
*
Allan Herschell Company The Allan Herschell Company specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines that could be used by traveling carnival operators. It was started in 1915 in the ...
* Herschell–Spillman Noah's Ark Carousel,
Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
* Herschell–Spillman Carousel,
Little Rock, Arkansas ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...
*
A Carousel for Missoula A Carousel for Missoula is a volunteer-built, hand-carved carousel in Missoula, Montana, located on the Clark Fork River in Missoula's downtown Caras Park within walking distance of the historic Wilma Theatre, Jeannette Rankin Peace Center and ...


References


External links


Herschell, Allan, Carousel Factory - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com


* ttp://www.carrouselmuseum.org/ Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum Carousels in New York (state) History museums in New York (state) Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Amusement museums in the United States Museums in Niagara County, New York North Tonawanda, New York National Register of Historic Places in Niagara County, New York Museums established in 1983 1983 establishments in New York (state) {{NewYork-museum-stub