It's a vintage, one of the few antique carousels left in the United States. One of the most pretty merry-go-round you will see.
Where: Tilden Park | Central Park Dr & Lake Anza Road, Berkeley, CA 94708
Open: Friday through Sunday | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Check the complete Calendar)
Visited: Saturday, Dec 15, 2018 | 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Website: http://www.tildenmerrygoround.org/
Tickets: Buy onsite
Enjoy your visit and don't forget to get a ride too! You are never too big for sitting on a Merry-go-round.
This Merry-Go-Round was built by the Herschell-Spillman Company of Tonawanda, New York in 1911. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I just could not stop staring at this grand, magnificent, splendid piece of art. It's carving and details are spectacular and why not its all hand carved! 4 rows of horses, chariots, cats, dogs, lions, tigers, toads, giraffes, sea monsters. It also has a see-saw and a smaller merry-go-round to choose from as your ride.
Ride tickets are upon arrival and cost $3.50/person for all above 2 years of age.
They sell these tickets at the cafe adjoined to the main building. The cafe also sells some carnival staple snacks which adds to the ambience like hot dogs, pretzels, cookies, churros, ice cream, cotton candy, sodas.
The awesome news is they take reservations for birthday parties, reunions, wedding photos, corporate gatherings, etc. What a lovely setting - picturesque, vintage and handmade beauty for your next event.
We went during the Christmas season so it had some Christmas decor, spirit and even a Santa. Bubu really enjoyed his ride and observing the beautiful Christmas trees. We did not torture him by forcing him to sit on Santa aka stranger a second time. We tried it earlier at 4th Street, Berkeley, CA and he had a brief but loud cry of stranger danger. Its a phase! However, the lights and the Christmas decor fascinated him; it was quite difficult to leave the venue for Bubu.
This merry-go-round has got its own lil interesting tale of history. Listing some fun facts, if you like to nerd it out like me.
Manufactured by the Herschell Spillman Company, North Tonawanda, New York. Built in 1911, 3 row machine with menagerie animals.
2nd permanent machine built by Herschell Spillman for Oliver Davis, Redlands CA.
First installed in Urbita Springs, an amusement park built by the Pacific Electric Railway along its trolley line between San Bernardino and Corona, Ca
1916 Merry Go Round moved to Wonderland Park, Ocean Beach, San Diego
Sold in 1928 and moved to somewhere near Long Beach, CA
1935 Oliver Davis reacquires the machine and runs it in Griffith Park, Los Angeles
1937 Merry Go Round was dismantled and placed in storage
1939 used in the Universal Studios film "So Ends Our Night"
1948 Ross Davis and his son John moved it to TILDEN REGIONAL PARK
1950, the Merry-Go-Round was expanded from a three-row machine to its current configuration as a four-row machine. The inside row of horses are all cast aluminum figures in contrast to the hand-carved poplar figures on the rest of the Merry-Go-Round. At the time of the reconfiguration, the original rounding boards were replaced with the white rounding boards seen today. The vignette paintings on the rounding boards were also painted in 1950.
1970s, the East Bay Regional Park District acquired the Merry-go-round and hired a team of artists to restore the animals, spinning tub, and chariots. The ride was painted in the color palette that exists today, taking cues from the surrounding parklands.
2008, the Merry-Go-Round was closed for an extensive mechanical overhaul that included the remodeling of the building to add weather proof doors and windows. The aging wooden platform deck was replaced with a custom milled, vertical grain platform deck that is treated with a clear protective coat. A full overhaul of the North Tonawanda Band Organ at the center of the Merry-Go-Round was performed, however the band organ was not yet operating as of March 2016. The full project cost $700,000.
November 2015, all Merry-Go-Round animals, spinning tub, and chariots were repainted in the 1970s color palette, the project included artists from the 1970s restoration.
While major mechanical overhauls have taken place over the years, including in 2008, much of the original machine remains intact. The machine is still operated using a trolley car throttle and a manual handbrake system. The original 7-1/2 horsepower Westinghouse electric motor still drives the Merry-Go-Round.
Enjoy your visit and don't forget to get a ride too! You are never too big for sitting on a Merry-Go-Round.
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