The 1905 Lighthouse Point Carousel features carvings by Charles Looff

Imagine a carousel where a figure of George Washington can be seen directing the movement of 70 figures and two chariots with a baton. The carousel features carvings by Charles Looff and Charles Carmel, with figures originating from different sources and displayed in a diversity of styles.

Timothy Murphy constructed the carousel about 1905. He reworked materials from other carousels for this construction and is believed to have hired Charles Carmel to make some alterations to the figures. The carousel is a platform style device about 60 feet in diameter, with some figures mounted on fixed metal columns and others on columns that rise and fall with the motion.

The carousel and its 1916 building were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building was erected by Thomas Shanley, who developed Lighthouse Point Park as a trolley park. The city of New Haven purchased the park in 1925. In 1957, the city demolished all other park buildings but retained the carousel. The carousel figures were placed in storage after 1957 and have since been restored to operation.

Today, the Renaissance Revival building stands about 200 feet inland from the Five Mile Point Light. The building features tall window bays articulated by pilasters and round-arch window bays surrounding the carousel section. While a severe storm overnight between August 12 and 13, 2026, heavily damaged the carousel building, it remains a rare example of early 20th-century carousel design in the state.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons