1 to 2 hours (approx.)
Daily Tour
15 people
English
Visit one of the last existing wooden carousel complexes in the United States with a trip to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum near Niagara Falls, NY. Explore the carving shop, paint room, assembly roundhouse, loading dock, and more. Ride a hand-carved, restored 1916 carousel. For kids, there’s a Children’s Gallery and Kiddieland Testing Park Exhibit (over the summer). Includes two ride tokens.
The Herschell companies in North Tonawanda (located just 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, New York) produced over 3,000 hand-carved, wooden carousels. Many of their carousels were portable with simply carved horses, meant to be used by traveling carnivals. They were shipped all over the country. Today 71 of the 148 antique, hand-carved wooden carousels still in existence in the United States and Canada were made by Herschell. In the 1930s, the company started making small metal amusement rides for children and promoting a ‘kiddieland’ package to small businesses.
During a visit, view exhibits, watch a wood carving demonstration, listen to the magical sounds of a band organ, view the music roll-making shop, ride a 1916, hand-carved carousel, ride four kiddie rides (in the summer), and shop in an extensive gift shop.
• Admission Ticket Included