Today is a fun day because it's National Merry-Go-Round Day, also known as National Carousel Day. The bright colors, artistic animals, rows of lights, and organ music make boarding a carousel feel like entering a magical world. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the terms "Merry-Go-Round" and "Carousel" are synonyms - there is no linguistic difference.
Founded in 2014 by Bette Largent, President of the National Carousel Association, and carousel historian Ronald Hopkins, the date commemorates the first U.S. patent issued to William Schneider of Davenport, Iowa, for the modern carousel in 1871.
According to National Day Calendar, "The merry-go-round is one of the oldest amusement rides. Also known as the carousel, the merry-go-round rotates on a circular platform around a pole. The platform holds seats for riders. A motor spins the platform around the large central pole. Between rows of seats, passengers ride wooden horses and other animals. Poles anchor the animals in place. Once in a while, the colorful animals move up and down. The movement simulates galloping. Meanwhile, calliope music plays, adding a light-hearted atmosphere. Merry-go-rounds are fun to ride and each one is unique. Each animal, bench, or car passenger ride on a carousel is hand-carved by artists. Ornately detailed elements decorate the poles and canopy of every carousel. Ferocious tigers and docile lambs carry riders around. All while the music plays. Undoubtedly, no two carousels are alike."
According to National Today, "Mass production of carousels boomed with the Industrial Revolution, and they quickly spread around the United States. Steam power fully replaced animal power in the 19th century, making merry-go-rounds bigger and heavier and creating the initial versions of the current round carousel design. Funfairs made it possible for all classes of people to enjoy these rides. The traditional characters were replaced by popular cartoon characters during this period. Every successful film, cartoon, or comic found its way to the fairgrounds.
By the next century, carousels were being manufactured for amusement parks by many companies. The Great Depression did put a lot of them out of business, except for one, the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. They mainly manufactured roller-coasters; and if an amusement park ordered a roller coaster, the company would often add a merry-go-round to the order free of charge. As the Second World War came around, all resources were directed for war efforts, pushing the carousel to the wayside. They rebounded again as the economy improved."
SHARE THIS: When the Philadelphia Toboggan Company filled an order for a roller-coaster for an amusement park, the company would add a merry-go-round to the order free of charge. #MerryGoRoundDay #FunFact #DebbieLaskeysBlog
From a marketing perspective, merry-go-rounds represent nostalgia and family fun. They go hand-in-hand with amusement parks, fairs, and boardwalks. In fact, they sometimes even appear as part of logos for these types of venues. Of course, the logo for the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky, Ohio, features a merry-go-round!
FUN FACTS:
(1) The earliest known depiction of the merry-go-round was in 500 A.D. The Byzantine Empire's ride depicted baskets carrying riders suspended from a central pole.
(2) Franz Wiesenoffer created the first merry-go-round in the United States in Hessville, Ohio, during the 1840's.
(3) According to Wikipedia, "King Arthur Carrousel is an attraction located in Fantasyland at Disneyland in California. The carousel was built in 1922 and operated at Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto, Ontario, until that park closed. The ride was relocated to Disneyland in 1954, where it was refurbished and modified - and opened with the park on July 17, 1955." The lead horse is named "Jingles" and was Walt Disney's favorite.
Will you search out a merry-go-round to ride today to celebrate? Have fun if you do!
SHARE THIS: Less than 200 of the roughly 6,000 hand-painted carousels remain nationwide. #MerryGoRoundDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog
Image Credit: Terry Runyan.
Check out all the famous Disney carousels around the world:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_carousels
Learn more about Philadelphia Tobaggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI):
https://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/
and
https://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/active-rides/historic-carousel-rides/
Read about some beautiful carousels in France:
https://thefogwatch.com/french-carousels-colourful-past-and-present/
Visit the Merry-Go-Round Museum online:
https://www.merrygoroundmuseum.org/
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