Friedsam
Memorial Carousel: C65 -
(The Central Park Carousel)
[Designed 1908 and Installed 1951]
Designers: Solomon Stein and Harry Goldstein
Summer Hours: Commencing April
Mon - Fri: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sat – Sun: 10:00am - 7:00pm Winter Hours:
Mon - Fri: Closed
Sat - Sun: 10:00am - Dusk
Holidays: 10:00am - Dusk Admission: Adults $1, Kids $1 Special Events: Birthday Parties
$21.95 per child, weekdays
$27.95 per child, Saturday and Sunday Reservations Required: Minimum of 12 children. (212) 879-0244
Walking west beneath the Playmates Arch,
invokes the distinct sound of organ music
resounding from the Friedsam Memorial
Carousel which stands just a few feet away.
During the months of April through November,
children and parents enjoy hours of fun riding
the horses revolving inside this current
brick structure. This is the fourth carousel
to exist on this site. A blind mule and a
horse below the floor of the merry-go-round
operated the movement of the original
carousel that was built and in use during
1871. Over the years a much more humane
approach was taken when a non-horse
powered carousel came into existence.
However, in 1924 it was destroyed by fire,
as was its successor in 1950. The Parks
Department set out to find a replacement
and to their astonishment they discovered
the present vintage Carousel, abandoned in
the old trolley terminal on Coney Island.
This Carousel is one of the largest in the
United States, with 58 hand-carved, painted
horses and is considered to be one of the finest
examples of turn-of-the-century folk art.
Created in 1908, Stein and Goldstein’s amazing
craftsmanship is evidently displayed, as the
nearly life-size horses in the outer ring appear
to come alive as the Carousel quickly spins. In
1951, the Carousel was renovated and updated
with modernized equipment provided with a
gift from the Michael Friedsam Foundation.
The musical tunes from the calliope invoke a
past age when the smell of hot dogs, popcorn
and cotton candy were the best definition of
childhood memories.
A Ruth Sohn band organ playing a Wurlitzer
150 music roll provides the music and is original
to the Carousel.
As the young ones indulge themselves on
those irresistible treats, their little hands try
with all their might to hold onto colorful balloons
that fly high above them.
Yet, for the children, the Carousel ride is true
bliss. For just a dollar, this three-and-a-half
minute spin is worth every cent.
