Imagine a world of whimsy where the music is steady and the animals are made of wood. This is the Pullen Park Carousel, a masterpiece that has been spinning its merry magic for over a hundred years.
In 1921, the city of Raleigh brought this treasure to Pullen Park from a struggling nearby amusement park for just $1,425. It was created by the Pennsylvania Carousel Company, the premier maker of these magnificent machines in the United States. Since then, the carousel has been a focal point of the park, spinning almost continuously for generations of children and dreamers.
What makes it so special are the 52 hand-carved basswood animals by Salvatore Cernigliaro. You can ride a giraffe, a lion, or even a cat or rabbit. It is a full menagerie of imagination. During a restoration from 1977 to 1982, experts uncovered the original factory paint and used the Munsell Color System to ensure each animal looked just as they were originally painted.
Today, the carousel still lives under a wooden-beamed shelter, accompanied by a 1924 Wurlitzer band organ that provides the soundtrack to your ride. It is a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark and remains one of only 23 historic Dentzel carousels still operating in North America.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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