Pullen Park Carousel
Encyclopedia
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 (or sleighs), 18 large gilded mirrors and canvas panels and a Wurlitzer
125 organ
made in 1924 by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York
. The carousel underwent restoration from 1977 to 1982 during which time the original factory paint was uncovered, documented and conserved. 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. In 1976 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
and is a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.
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 of its original cost. The carousel became a Pullen Park focal point and is now recognized as one of the foremost surviving works of the Pennsylvania Carousel Company, founded by Gustav A. Dentzel. In 1860, Dentzel emigrated from Germany
and set up a cabinet making shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. After the public's positive reaction to a merry go round he had built, Dentzel began constructing carousels full-time in 1876. From then until the closing of his factory in 1928, the company was the premier maker of carousels in the United States
. The Pullen Park Carousel is one of 23 remaining historic Dentzel carousels still operating in North America
.
The primary feature of the Pullen Park Carousel is a menagerie
of 52 hand-carved wooden animals carved by Salvatore Cernigliaro who was known for elaborate and imaginative designs. The animals include horses, ostrich
es, cats, rabbits, pigs, a lion, a tiger, a reindeer, and a goat. The carousel is housed in a tent-like wooden-beamed shelter. The original music was produced by a Wurlitzer band organ
. Since coming to Pullen Park, the carousel has been in almost continuous use. Replacements of several mechanical components have been made due to wear and tear, but the ride remains largely intact.
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
at Pullen Park
Pullen Park
Pullen Park is a 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...
in Raleigh, North Carolina
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...
. Built in 1900, the carousel contains 52 hand-carved basswood animals, 2 chariots (or sleighs), 18 large gilded mirrors and canvas panels and a Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
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 carousel underwent restoration from 1977 to 1982 during which time the original factory paint was uncovered, documented and conserved. Each hard carved animal was restored to its exact Munsell Color System
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. 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 is a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.
History
In 1887, Richard Stanhope Pullen donated 80 acres (32.4 ha) of land to the city of Raleigh for use as a public park. The carousel was originally located in Bloomsbury Park (near the present-day Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh) 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 parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
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 of its original cost. The carousel became a Pullen Park focal point and is now recognized as one of the foremost surviving works of the Pennsylvania Carousel Company, founded by Gustav A. Dentzel. In 1860, Dentzel emigrated from 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...
and set up a cabinet making shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. After the public's positive reaction to a merry go round he had built, Dentzel began constructing carousels full-time in 1876. From then until the closing of his factory in 1928, the company was the premier maker of carousels in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Pullen Park Carousel is one of 23 remaining historic Dentzel carousels still operating in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
The primary feature of the Pullen Park Carousel is a menagerie
Menagerie
A menagerie is/was a form of keeping common and exotic animals in captivity that preceded the modern zoological garden. The term was first used in seventeenth century France in reference to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to...
of 52 hand-carved wooden animals carved by Salvatore Cernigliaro who was known for elaborate and imaginative designs. The animals include horses, ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es, cats, rabbits, pigs, a lion, a tiger, a reindeer, and a goat. The carousel is housed in a tent-like wooden-beamed shelter. The original music was produced by a Wurlitzer band organ
Fairground organ
A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
. Since coming to Pullen Park, the carousel has been in almost continuous use. Replacements of several mechanical components have been made due to wear and tear, but the ride remains largely intact.
External links
- Pullen Park Amusements information on visiting
- National Register of Historic Places profile
- National Carousel Association profile