Pullen Park
Encyclopedia
Pullen Park is a 72 acre (29.1 ha) public park
in Raleigh
, North Carolina
west of downtown, adjacent to the campus of North Carolina State University
, between Western Boulevard and Hillsborough Street
. The park features picnic areas, a concessions stand along with several small rides including the Pullen Park Carousel
, train
, and kiddie boats. Pedal boats are also available for rent seasonally on the park's large pond. The Pullen Aquatic Center, Pullen Arts Center and Theatre In the Park are also located on the park grounds. It is one of the most famous and known parks around the Raleigh/Durham area.
design was in keeping with the times. He also financed a round pavilion for outdoor entertainment and a fountain, located near the city's first swimming pool
(for men only) in 1891. A congressman from another county donated fifty Japan
ese carp
for the fountain which shows the significance of the park even outside of Raleigh. In 1895 modifications to the structure and use of the pool allowed for female usage. The pool remained in the same place until it was replaced by the Pullen Aquatic Center in 1992 (see: Aquatic Center).
In addition to many of the existing rides there was also a small zoo
on site from 1899 to 1938 and a steam-powered carousel
which was replaced by the current carousel in 1921. The zoo was created following a national trend to incorporate zoological parks in public parks which began in the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. Beginning with only two raccoon
s, the collection soon grew in size and variety and by 1903 included an Australia
n owl
, mink
, bear
s, alligator
s and monkey
s and many others. The zoo eventually closed, most likely due to the death of the Park Keeper, Wiley Howell, who had kept it going.
The merry-go-round was purchased for $350 in 1914 from the W.D. Chase Bottling Works of Galesburg, Illinois
. It began operating in 1915 but apparently it was in poor condition because the city decided to purchase a Dentzel carousel
only five years later. (see: Carousel)
Although baseball
was unofficially played in Pullen Park for many years – perhaps even before the land became a park - the officially sanctioned field
was not created until the unofficial field was renovated in 1920. A second field was added later.
In 2000 the city began making plans to update the park to accommodate the growing Raleigh population and later invited the citizens to take part in the plans. Over the past several years many changes have been made, including the removal of the iconic 'Swiss cheese
' play structure and other playground equipment. More notable, however, is the new entrance and additional parking that makes the park more accessible to more people.
Although Jim Crow laws
prohibited blacks from using some of the park facilities (e.g. the swimming pool), the main park areas were open to all and Raleigh community blacks were not denied access to these areas According to the census of the National Amusement Park Historical Association
, Pullen Park is the 14th oldest amusement park in the world.
The park was closed from December 14, 2009 to November 18, 2011 for extensive renovations including a new, climate-controlled carousel house, welcome center, concessions building, restroom, and train station. Site improvements to the Center include a new entrance, event spaces, playground, underground utilities and picnic shelters. Additionally Lake Howell was drained and dredged for regular lake maintenance and to allow for updates including a new apron and installation of a geothermal energy system.
projects. His land and monetary donations contributed to the development of city roads, and what later became Peace College
, UNC Greensboro, NC State University, Edenton Street United Methodist Church
and, of course, Pullen Park. Pullen remained actively involved in planning and funding improvements to the park until his death in 1895. No monument or plaque was erected on park ground commemorating his contributions until 1992, as the city feared that this use would violate the clause that stipulated that the land must be used for recreational purposes. The most recognizable monument to Richard Stanhope Pullen for Raleigh residents is the obelisk
on the Pullen family plot in Raleigh's Oakwood Cemetery
.
s, sand areas and other various playground equipment
for children of all ages, the park also contains lighted tennis
courts
, two ball fields, a lake with paddle boats, covered and uncovered picnic
areas, many picturesque paths and bridges, an adjacent Aquatic Center as well as the adjacent Pullen Arts Center and Theatre In the Park.
The Aquatic Center and the Arts Center both offer classes to all ages in fitness, swimming and art (pottery
, jewelry making, weaving, glass art
, etc.) and plays are performed on a regular basis in the internationally acclaimed Theatre In the Park.
swimming pool
, a warm water therapy pool, a mezzanine with spectator seating, an outdoor patio, and locker room facilities and is open for swimming laps as well as recreational swimming. Services offered at Pullen Aquatic Center include water exercise programs, aquatic therapy
programs, a city swim league, and American Red Cross
Learn-to-Swim lessons, lifeguard
training, and instructor-level classes.
It is also used for several local, state, and regional swimming and diving competitions each year, including the Special Olympics
of North Carolina Summer Games which is held every May/June. The Aquatic Center is located on Ashe Avenue across from the Governor Morehead School for the Blind and adjacent to Pullen Park.
, weaving, and glass arts. The center has extensive studios and equipment, as well as instructors and knowledgeable staff to help both the artist and the novice. The Arts Center also hosts a summer camp program called Art4Fun for children and special events and gallery exhibits are held throughout the year.
This air conditioned indoor theatre facility, located in the northern end of the park, includes a beautiful, Season Member Lounge, administrative offices, costume shop, technical workshop, dressing rooms, lobby and totally flexible (black box) performance space. Year-round programming includes no less than four mainstage productions, classes, workshops and independent productions.” TIP is internationally acclaimed and well known locally for its Shakespeare in the Park play series which has been ongoing since 1974.
donated a statue of Andy
and Opie Taylor
depicting a well known scene from The Andy Griffith Show
. The addition of this statue was controversial, as citizens of Mount Airy, North Carolina
, which the fictional town of Mayberry was ostensibly based on, believed that the statue should be in their town as opposed to Raleigh. The statue has been vandalized several times and was slightly redesigned to prevent further damage.
380 bay window
caboose
with a Southern Railway paint scheme to explore.
A miniature train
, added to the park in 1950, goes through a tunnel and around the park. The tunnel and a second train were added in 1971. The C.P. Huntington Train is a one-third sized operational miniature train has thrilled children of all ages since it was added to the park in the 1950s. The engine is a near exact replica of a locomotive that was built in 1863 at the Danforth-Cook Locomotive works in Paterson, New Jersey
which eventually found its way to San Francisco (by way of Cape Horn
) when it was purchased by Central Pacific Railroad
where C.P. Huntington was then Vice President. On April 9, 1864 it was christened the C.P. Huntington C.P. #3 after its first run. It was slated to be destroyed in 1914 but was saved, restored and renamed and now resides in Sacramento, CA.
The Pullen Park Carousel
was made circa 1900 by master carver Salvatore Cernigliaro of the Dentzel Carousel Company of Germantown, Pennsylvania
. It contains 52 hand-carved basswood animals, 2 chariots (or sleighs), 18 large gilded mirrors and 18 canvas panels and a Wurlitzer 125 organ
made in 1924 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York
. The Dentzel Carousel Company was the first American carousel company and while thousands of carousels were made in the U.S., there are only approximately 200 antique carousels left today and fewer than 25 of those are Dentzel carousels and only 14 of those remain in operation. Unfortunately, the carousel is often closed for repairs but it is a small price to pay to continue to be able to enjoy this beautiful antique ride when it is in good working condition. Many generations of park visitors have enjoyed riding a giraffe a pony or an ostrich and continue to pass the tradition along to their own children. It is considered to be the park's most popular attraction.
This particular carousel was originally located in Bloomsbury Park (also in Raleigh near what is now known as Five Points) and was moved to Pullen Park in 1921 when the City Board voted to replace the steam powered antique merry go round. Bloomsbury Park, an amusement park founded by Carolina Power & Light
(CP&L), was apparently in financial trouble and Pullen Park was able to acquire the carousel for $1,425 - one tenth its original cost. This expenditure angered many Raleigh residents, but they soon acquiesced after it began running.
The carousel underwent restoration from 1977 to 1982 during which time the original factory paint was uncovered, documented and conserved. It was the first time such an attempt had been made. Each hard carved animal was restored to its exact Munsell Color System
paint color preserving the original paint underneath a layer of shellac
while enabling the animals to look just as they were originally painted (#sign). In 1976 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
and it is also a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
west of downtown, adjacent to the campus of North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, between Western Boulevard and Hillsborough Street
Hillsborough Street
Hillsborough Street is a prominent business and cultural thoroughfare through Raleigh, North Carolina. The street serves as a center for social life among North Carolina State University students. Nearby Meredith College students also frequent the street's area businesses...
. The park features picnic areas, a concessions stand along with several small rides including the Pullen Park Carousel
Pullen Park Carousel
The Pullen Park Carousel is a classic wood carousel at Pullen Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. Built in 1900, the carousel contains 52 hand-carved basswood animals, 2 chariots , 18 large gilded mirrors and canvas panels and a Wurlitzer 125 organ made in 1924 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of...
, train
Ridable miniature railway
A ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
, and kiddie boats. Pedal boats are also available for rent seasonally on the park's large pond. The Pullen Aquatic Center, Pullen Arts Center and Theatre In the Park are also located on the park grounds. It is one of the most famous and known parks around the Raleigh/Durham area.
History
Pullen Park was founded on March 22, 1887 when Richard Stanhope Pullen donated farmland to the City of Raleigh expressly to be used as a space for recreational enjoyment of citizens and visitors to Raleigh, NC. This land became Pullen Park, the first public park in North Carolina, although its founder, always shying from thanks and publicity, opposed giving it his name. A "Committee on Public Parks" was formed to oversee the transformation from farm land to landscaped park and a Park Keeper was hired in 1888 to oversee these modifications. Pullen continued his own involvement by taking part in the planning and financing of bridges, roads and paths throughout the park as well as the planting of trees and general landscaping in the park and the neighboring university (NCSU) which was built on land also donated by him. Pullen's landscape architectureLandscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
design was in keeping with the times. He also financed a round pavilion for outdoor entertainment and a fountain, located near the city's first swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
(for men only) in 1891. A congressman from another county donated fifty Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
for the fountain which shows the significance of the park even outside of Raleigh. In 1895 modifications to the structure and use of the pool allowed for female usage. The pool remained in the same place until it was replaced by the Pullen Aquatic Center in 1992 (see: Aquatic Center).
In addition to many of the existing rides there was also a small zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
on site from 1899 to 1938 and a steam-powered carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
which was replaced by the current carousel in 1921. The zoo was created following a national trend to incorporate zoological parks in public parks which began in the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. Beginning with only two raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s, the collection soon grew in size and variety and by 1903 included an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
, mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
, bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s, alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s and monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s and many others. The zoo eventually closed, most likely due to the death of the Park Keeper, Wiley Howell, who had kept it going.
The merry-go-round was purchased for $350 in 1914 from the W.D. Chase Bottling Works of Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
. It began operating in 1915 but apparently it was in poor condition because the city decided to purchase a Dentzel carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
only five years later. (see: Carousel)
Although baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
was unofficially played in Pullen Park for many years – perhaps even before the land became a park - the officially sanctioned field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
was not created until the unofficial field was renovated in 1920. A second field was added later.
In 2000 the city began making plans to update the park to accommodate the growing Raleigh population and later invited the citizens to take part in the plans. Over the past several years many changes have been made, including the removal of the iconic 'Swiss cheese
Swiss cheese
Swiss cheese is a generic name in North America for several related varieties of cheese which resemble the Swiss Emmental. Some types of Swiss cheese have a distinctive appearance, as the blocks of the cheese are riddled with holes known as "eyes". Swiss cheese has a piquant, but not very sharp,...
' play structure and other playground equipment. More notable, however, is the new entrance and additional parking that makes the park more accessible to more people.
Although Jim Crow laws
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
prohibited blacks from using some of the park facilities (e.g. the swimming pool), the main park areas were open to all and Raleigh community blacks were not denied access to these areas According to the census of the National Amusement Park Historical Association
National Amusement Park Historical Association
The National Amusement Park Historical Association was founded in 1978 by a former employee of Chicago's Riverview Amusement Park, and NAPHA has grown throughout a long period of time to include amusement parks from all over the world. NAPHA preserves amusement park history and historic rides. ...
, Pullen Park is the 14th oldest amusement park in the world.
The park was closed from December 14, 2009 to November 18, 2011 for extensive renovations including a new, climate-controlled carousel house, welcome center, concessions building, restroom, and train station. Site improvements to the Center include a new entrance, event spaces, playground, underground utilities and picnic shelters. Additionally Lake Howell was drained and dredged for regular lake maintenance and to allow for updates including a new apron and installation of a geothermal energy system.
Founder
Richard Stanhope Pullen was born on September 18, 1822 to Turner and Elizabeth Smith Pullen on the small family plantation in Wake County, NC. Little is known about his early life and education and even in his later life he shied from press and recognition. However, it is known that as a young man he began working for his uncle, Richard Smith, in Raleigh. Eventually he inherited quite a large sum of money from his uncle and began embarking on developing Raleigh through business endeavors as well as philanthropicPhilanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
projects. His land and monetary donations contributed to the development of city roads, and what later became Peace College
Peace College
William Peace University is a small liberal arts college located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian church.-History:...
, UNC Greensboro, NC State University, Edenton Street United Methodist Church
Edenton Street United Methodist Church
Edenton Street United Methodist Church is a historic United Methodist church in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Edenton Street Church is one of the largest United Methodist Churches in Raleigh and was the first United Methodist Church built in the city. Edenton Street Church is located on...
and, of course, Pullen Park. Pullen remained actively involved in planning and funding improvements to the park until his death in 1895. No monument or plaque was erected on park ground commemorating his contributions until 1992, as the city feared that this use would violate the clause that stipulated that the land must be used for recreational purposes. The most recognizable monument to Richard Stanhope Pullen for Raleigh residents is the obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
on the Pullen family plot in Raleigh's Oakwood Cemetery
Historic Oakwood Cemetery
Historic Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1869 in Raleigh, North Carolina near the North Carolina State Capitol in Historic Oakwood. Historic Oakwood Cemetery contains two special areas within its , the Confederate Cemetery, located on the original two and one-half acres , and the Hebrew Cemetery,...
.
Attractions
In addition to several swing setSwing (seat)
A swing is a hanging seat, usually found at playgrounds for children, a circus for acrobats, or on a porch for relaxing. The seat of a swing may be suspended from chains or ropes. Once a swing is in motion it continues to oscillate like a pendulum until external interference or drag brings it to a...
s, sand areas and other various playground equipment
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
for children of all ages, the park also contains lighted tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
, two ball fields, a lake with paddle boats, covered and uncovered picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
areas, many picturesque paths and bridges, an adjacent Aquatic Center as well as the adjacent Pullen Arts Center and Theatre In the Park.
The Aquatic Center and the Arts Center both offer classes to all ages in fitness, swimming and art (pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, jewelry making, weaving, glass art
Glass art
Studio glass or glass sculpture is the modern use of glass as an artistic medium to produce sculptures or three-dimensional artworks. Specific approaches include working glass at room temperature cold working, stained glass, working glass in a torch flame , glass beadmaking, glass casting, glass...
, etc.) and plays are performed on a regular basis in the internationally acclaimed Theatre In the Park.
Aquatic Center
Pullen Aquatic Center, completed in 1992, is one of two city-run, public year round aquatic centers. It contains an Olympic sizeOlympic size swimming pool
An Olympic-size swimming pool is the type of swimming pool used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is 50 meters in length. This is typically referred to as "long course", delineating it from "short course" which applies to competitions in pools that are either 25 meters or 25 yards in...
swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, a warm water therapy pool, a mezzanine with spectator seating, an outdoor patio, and locker room facilities and is open for swimming laps as well as recreational swimming. Services offered at Pullen Aquatic Center include water exercise programs, aquatic therapy
Aquatic therapy
Definition of Aquatic Therapy: A therapeutic procedure which attempts to improve function through the application of aquatic therapeutic exercises. These procedures require constant attendance of a therapist educated in performing aquatic therapeutic exercises. [1, 2] Common synonyms: Aquatic...
programs, a city swim league, and American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
Learn-to-Swim lessons, lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
training, and instructor-level classes.
It is also used for several local, state, and regional swimming and diving competitions each year, including the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
of North Carolina Summer Games which is held every May/June. The Aquatic Center is located on Ashe Avenue across from the Governor Morehead School for the Blind and adjacent to Pullen Park.
Pullen Arts Center
Pullen Arts Center offers classes in pottery, jewelry-making, painting, printmakingPrintmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
, weaving, and glass arts. The center has extensive studios and equipment, as well as instructors and knowledgeable staff to help both the artist and the novice. The Arts Center also hosts a summer camp program called Art4Fun for children and special events and gallery exhibits are held throughout the year.
Theatre In the Park
Theatre In the Park was originally chartered in 1947 as The Children’s Theatre of Raleigh, Inc. The name was change in the early 1970s.This air conditioned indoor theatre facility, located in the northern end of the park, includes a beautiful, Season Member Lounge, administrative offices, costume shop, technical workshop, dressing rooms, lobby and totally flexible (black box) performance space. Year-round programming includes no less than four mainstage productions, classes, workshops and independent productions.” TIP is internationally acclaimed and well known locally for its Shakespeare in the Park play series which has been ongoing since 1974.
Andy Griffith/Mayberry Statue
Although monuments and statues have traditionally been avoided due to the clause that stipulates that the land must only be used for recreational purposes, in 2003 TV LandTV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
donated a statue of Andy
Sheriff Andy Taylor
Sheriff Andrew "Andy" Jackson Taylor is the principal character on The Andy Griffith Show, an American sitcom which aired on CBS, . The character made a few appearances in the show's spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. and appeared in a reunion telemovie Return to Mayberry...
and Opie Taylor
Opie Taylor
Opie Taylor is a fictional character in the American television program, The Andy Griffith Show which was televised on CBS from October 3, 1960 to April 1, 1968...
depicting a well known scene from The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
. The addition of this statue was controversial, as citizens of Mount Airy, North Carolina
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Mount Airy is a city in Surry County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,388.-History:Mount Airy was settled in the 1750s as a stagecoach stop on the road between Winston-Salem and Galax, Virginia. It was named for a nearby plantation...
, which the fictional town of Mayberry was ostensibly based on, believed that the statue should be in their town as opposed to Raleigh. The statue has been vandalized several times and was slightly redesigned to prevent further damage.
Caboose
A real Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
380 bay window
Bay window
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees. Bay windows are often associated with Victorian architecture...
caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
with a Southern Railway paint scheme to explore.
Rides
The park features 4 rides with a nominal charge for each. Tickets are purched from the office near the park entrance. Adults are welcome on all rides with the exception of the kiddie boats which are intended for small children and circle in a small pool. Pedal boats are available for rental by the half hour. There must be one person aged 16 or older and boats can accommodate up to four people.A miniature train
Ridable miniature railway
A ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
, added to the park in 1950, goes through a tunnel and around the park. The tunnel and a second train were added in 1971. The C.P. Huntington Train is a one-third sized operational miniature train has thrilled children of all ages since it was added to the park in the 1950s. The engine is a near exact replica of a locomotive that was built in 1863 at the Danforth-Cook Locomotive works in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
which eventually found its way to San Francisco (by way of Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
) when it was purchased by Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
where C.P. Huntington was then Vice President. On April 9, 1864 it was christened the C.P. Huntington C.P. #3 after its first run. It was slated to be destroyed in 1914 but was saved, restored and renamed and now resides in Sacramento, CA.
Pullen Park Carousel
The Pullen Park Carousel is a classic wood carousel at Pullen Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. Built in 1900, the carousel contains 52 hand-carved basswood animals, 2 chariots , 18 large gilded mirrors and canvas panels and a Wurlitzer 125 organ made in 1924 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of...
was made circa 1900 by master carver Salvatore Cernigliaro of the Dentzel Carousel Company of Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
. It contains 52 hand-carved basswood animals, 2 chariots (or sleighs), 18 large gilded mirrors and 18 canvas panels and a Wurlitzer 125 organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
made in 1924 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York
North Tonawanda, New York
North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south border...
. The Dentzel Carousel Company was the first American carousel company and while thousands of carousels were made in the U.S., there are only approximately 200 antique carousels left today and fewer than 25 of those are Dentzel carousels and only 14 of those remain in operation. Unfortunately, the carousel is often closed for repairs but it is a small price to pay to continue to be able to enjoy this beautiful antique ride when it is in good working condition. Many generations of park visitors have enjoyed riding a giraffe a pony or an ostrich and continue to pass the tradition along to their own children. It is considered to be the park's most popular attraction.
This particular carousel was originally located in Bloomsbury Park (also in Raleigh near what is now known as Five Points) and was moved to Pullen Park in 1921 when the City Board voted to replace the steam powered antique merry go round. Bloomsbury Park, an amusement park founded by Carolina Power & Light
Carolina Power & Light
Carolina Power & Light was an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution utility based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company was founded on July 13, 1908 as the result of the merger and buyout of numerous small, private, and financial distressed utilities across the state...
(CP&L), was apparently in financial trouble and Pullen Park was able to acquire the carousel for $1,425 - one tenth its original cost. This expenditure angered many Raleigh residents, but they soon acquiesced after it began running.
Munsell color system
In colorimetry, the Munsell color system is a color space that specifies colors based on three color dimensions: hue, value , and chroma . It was created by Professor Albert H...
paint color preserving the original paint underneath a layer of shellac
Shellac
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and sold as dry flakes , which are dissolved in ethyl alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish...
while enabling the animals to look just as they were originally painted (#sign). In 1976 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and it is also a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.
External links
- http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NC/Wake/state3.html
- http://www.dentzel.com/
- http://www.governormorehead.net/
- http://www.tvland.com/shows/griffith/
- http://www.historicoakwoodcemetery.com/
- http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_209_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Leisure/Park_and_Greenway_Planning/Current_Projects/Cat-MCH-20091026-144809-Pullen_Park_Amusement_Ce.html