Bringing Back the Magic
Historic Carousel Returns to Salisbury Beach
Old-time merry-go-rounds have nostalgic appeal—the sound of the organ, the whimsical hand-carved wooden animals pumping up and down, and the bright lights reflecting in ornately carved mirrors. No wonder that riders of all ages enjoy taking a spin! Carousels were the first form of mechanical recreation and the origin of modern amusements. Today, less than 100 unique, classic historical carousels remain intact and operational. And Salisbury Beach will soon be home to one of these rare treasures!
Salisbury Beach Historical Carousel Facts
- The 112-year-old antique carousel purchased by the Salisbury Beach Partnership was built by W.F. Mangels, one of the most renowned carousel builders of all time, at the Looff factory in East Providence, Rhode Island in 1909.
- The historic carousel boasts 44 friendly, hand carved wooden animals–35 horses, 3 giraffes, 3 camels and 3 goats, plus 2 chariots.
- Each of the unique, hand-painted animals were meticulously created by renowned carvers such as Charles Carmel, Charles Looff, Harry Goldstein, and Solomon Stein.
- The rare 1909 Menagerie Machine, as it was called in the day, was built during the Golden Age of carousels.
New Life for a Magnificent Treasure
The Looff/Mangels carousel was originally purchased in 1909 by Alfred and Nettie Wintersteen and operated at their Harveys Lake Amusement Park in Pennsylvania. Completely restored in 1990, the carousel remained in the Wintersteen Family for 110 years before moving to Salisbury. With only 300 large carousels of this kind carved and built by the original artisans of the craft, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a true piece of American history and artistry.
The Salisbury Beach Partnership is working on securing a permanent home on the Broadway Mall for this reclaimed piece of New England heritage. Reminiscent of Salisbury Beach’s heyday, the authentic 1909 Looff/Mangels Carousel will bring back a family tradition of riding the “Broadway Flying Horses.”
COME TAKE A LOOK!
This summer, the newly purchased and assembled historic carousel is on display for viewing only (sorry no rides yet!) inside the Carefree Arcade located at 27 Ocean Front South on Salisbury Beach. Learn more about this fascinating machine and its history. Once operational, visitors will be invited to ride the historical carousel for a small fee.
Support the Campaign for the Carousel
Ask about our giving opportunities! An “Adopt a Horse” program is being developed to help pay for the carousel, while private and public funding partnerships are being explored to pay for construction of a storied pavilion to house this magnificent piece of history. Click here to email us for more information.
Your contribution of any amount helps us preserve this special piece of history for future generations to enjoy. Thank you in advance!
