Crescent Park Looff Carousel
Encyclopedia
Crescent Park Looff Carousel, also known as Crescent Park Carousel or more officially as Crescent Park Looff Carousel and Shelter Building, is a National Historic Landmark
in East Providence, Rhode Island
.
The hand-carved carousel was built in 1895 by Charles I. D. Looff at Crescent Park Amusement Park
in Riverside, Rhode Island. The ride's fifty-foot platform contains sixty-one horses, one camel, two single coaches, and two double chariots. Fifty-six of the horses are jumpers.
was born in Denmark
in 1852 and immigrated to the United States in 1870. He built the first carousel at Coney Island
in 1876. In 1905, Looff moved his factory to Crescent Park and used this carousel as a showpiece for customers to select the horses that they wanted on their rides. Most of the figures on this carousel were carved between 1905 and 1910 when Looff moved his factory to Long Beach, California
. Of almost fifty carousels that Looff built between 1875 and 1918, this is one of the few remaining in operation.
When Crescent Park closed in 1977, the City of East Providence kept the carousel off of the auction block after being pressured by local coalitions. The restored ride continues to operate every summer and is controlled by a commission of eighteen bureaucrats who maintain statutory authority over a dynastic managerial and operational staff.
The carousel was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1987.
The Rhode Island General Assembly proclaimed the carousel as "the State Jewel of American Folk Art."
to earn a free ride. After catching the rings, riders throw them into the cut-out mouth of a clown face painted on a large canvas. Originally, the ride was powered by steam from the park's steam plant. The carousel is currently operated by an electric motor.
, Germany
, provides music from a Wurlitzer 165 music roll
system, which replaced the original German cardboard book music
system. At least six cassette volumes of recorded music were previously sold at the carousel and have become rare collector's items. In response to noise complaints by the carousel operators and visitors, several of the ranks of pipes in the band organ have been disabled to reduce the music volume. In a notable 1995 incident, carved instruments from the facade of the band organ were stolen.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at ....
.
The hand-carved carousel was built in 1895 by Charles I. D. Looff at Crescent Park Amusement Park
Crescent Park Amusement Park
Crescent Park Amusement Park was a bustling old-time amusement park on the shores of Narragansett Bay in Riverside, Rhode Island. The park operated for 93 years from 1886 until 1979....
in Riverside, Rhode Island. The ride's fifty-foot platform contains sixty-one horses, one camel, two single coaches, and two double chariots. Fifty-six of the horses are jumpers.
History
Charles I. D. LooffCharles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built...
was born in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1852 and immigrated to the United States in 1870. He built the first carousel at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
in 1876. In 1905, Looff moved his factory to Crescent Park and used this carousel as a showpiece for customers to select the horses that they wanted on their rides. Most of the figures on this carousel were carved between 1905 and 1910 when Looff moved his factory to Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Of almost fifty carousels that Looff built between 1875 and 1918, this is one of the few remaining in operation.
When Crescent Park closed in 1977, the City of East Providence kept the carousel off of the auction block after being pressured by local coalitions. The restored ride continues to operate every summer and is controlled by a commission of eighteen bureaucrats who maintain statutory authority over a dynastic managerial and operational staff.
The carousel was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1987.
The Rhode Island General Assembly proclaimed the carousel as "the State Jewel of American Folk Art."
The Building
The carousel is housed in one of Looff's classic "hippodrome" buildings with a trademark onion dome. Sunlight floods through multicolored clerestory windows and reflects off of faceted mirrors to create a kaleidoscope effect. The carousel is circled by several rows of wooden benches and a rope fence. Tickets are purchased from a free-standing booth located just inside the entrance and opposite from a small gift and snack stand. Adjacent to this stand is a small exhibit of historical artifacts. Vents at the roof's peak provide natural air circulation. Famously located just under the onion dome atop the center of the carousel machinery is a carved American bald eagle. Managerial offices are located in a pavilion annex opposite the main access road which was formerly Looff's on-site workshop.The Rides
Rides begin and end when a brass fog bell manufactured by PERKO Inc. is rung. The duration of the ride is ascertained with the help of a small hourglass affixed to the snare drum cabinet of the band organ. It is one of the only carousels in America where riders can play the ring game by grabbing a brass ringBrass ring
A brass ring is a small grabbable ring that a dispenser presents to a carousel rider during the course of a ride. Usually there are a large number of iron rings and one brass one, or just a few. It takes some dexterity to grab a ring from the dispenser as the carousel rotates. The iron rings can be...
to earn a free ride. After catching the rings, riders throw them into the cut-out mouth of a clown face painted on a large canvas. Originally, the ride was powered by steam from the park's steam plant. The carousel is currently operated by an electric motor.
The Band Organ
An Andreas Ruth und Sohn Style 38 band organ, imported from WaldkirchWaldkirch
Waldkirch is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is known as "the place of mechanical organs", where fairground organs are manufactured and played on the streets from well-known manufacturers, such as A. Ruth and Sohn, Bruder and Carl Frei .-Sights:* The Catholic Church St...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, provides music from a Wurlitzer 165 music roll
Music roll
A music roll is a storage medium used to operate a mechanical musical instrument. They are used for the player piano, mechanical organ, electronic carillon and various types of orchestrion. The vast majority of music rolls are made of paper...
system, which replaced the original German cardboard book music
Book music
Book Music is a medium for storing the music played on mechanical organs, mainly of European manufacture. Book music is made from thick cardboard, containing perforated holes representing the musical notes to be played, with the book folded zig-zag style...
system. At least six cassette volumes of recorded music were previously sold at the carousel and have become rare collector's items. In response to noise complaints by the carousel operators and visitors, several of the ranks of pipes in the band organ have been disabled to reduce the music volume. In a notable 1995 incident, carved instruments from the facade of the band organ were stolen.