 The Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford, Connecticut is a stunning artistic treasure from 1914 that offers affordable fun for riders of all ages. Bushnell Park Carousel - A Rare Beauty The Bushnell Park Carousel is one of only three Stein & Goldstein carousels still in operation in the United States. For two dollars, you can take a ride into the past for three-and-a-half minutes. Just wait for the bell to signal the start and stop of the carousel ride. Bushnell Park Carousel History  A warm glow at the carousel. Built in 1914, the carousel first operated in Albany, New York until 1940 when it was moved to Meyers Lake Amusement Park in Canton, Ohio. When the amusement park closed in 1974, Hartford resident and architect Jack Dollard moved the carousel to Bushnell Park. The carousel is owned and operated by the City of Hartford. Over a 10-year period, The Carousel Museum in Bristol, Connecticut restored the carousel to its former glory, including removing layers of red paint from the carousel’s platform to reveal the original yellow pine. The National Carousel Association honored The Carousel Museum for their restoration and preservation of the carousel. In 2018, a playground was built behind the carousel pavilion, with a twisty slide, balance beam, and climbing ladders, plus ramps and stairs for children of all abilities. About the Bushnell Park Carousel  The lead horse behind the chariot. The carousel features a Wurlitzer band organ, 2 decorative chariots, and 48 wooden horses. The 12 stander or prancer horses are stationary on the carousel platform and the 36 jumper horses move up and down as the carousel turns. The tails on the carousel horses are made from real horsehair. Typically, carousel horses are carved in three postures:
Antique wooden carousel horses usually have hollow bodies to lighten the weight of the figures. Constructed like a box, the carousel horses are made with thousands of individual pieces of wood, assembled using a combination of wooden dowels and hot glue.  Antique wooden carousel horses are often hollow. These carousel figures were hand-carved by Solomon Stein and Harry Goldstein, two Russian Jewish immigrants, who settled in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900s. In their native land, Jewish woodcarvers like Stein and Goldstein would have carved Torah Arks decorated with animals, fruit, and foliage, often gilded and painted in vibrant colors. In America, Stein and Goldstein first carved elegant hair combs before working at a Coney Island factory to carve wooden carousel horses. In 1908, Stein and Goldstein struck out on their own to open the Artistic Carousel Manufacturing Company in Brooklyn, New York. Known for portraying beauty and energy in their carvings, Stein and Goldstein produced the largest hand-carved horses and the biggest carousels, including the carousel in New York City’s Central Park. At the Bushnell Park Carousel, don’t miss the decorative panels surrounding the center pole. Each month of the year is represented in a colorful panel, plus a signature panel painted Stein & Goldstein, 1914, Brooklyn, New York.  Painted panels surround the center pole. Things to know about Bushnell Park Carousel The Bushnell Park Carousel is housed in an enclosed wooden pavilion with air conditioning and heating to extend the carousel season. Snacks and restrooms are available inside the carousel pavilion. The pavilion may look dark from the outside, but only to protect the carousel from the sun.  Snacks and restrooms available in the carousel pavilion. Bushnell Park Carousel Hours
When planning a visit to Bushnell Park, you should also consider events held at the park such as music, running, and yoga. The Bushnell Park Carousel can be rented for birthday parties and other special events. Bushnell Park Carousel Parking For GPS to get to Bushnell Park, use 1 Jewell Street, Hartford, Connecticut. There is no public parking within Bushnell Park. On weekends, you might find free parking on the street around the park. Otherwise, you will need to pay for parking at lots and garages on the perimeter of the park. Since Bushnell Park has 37 acres of greenery, a 30-foot-tall marble fountain, several statues, and a memorial arch, paying for parking may be worth it to you. Visit Bushnell Park Carousel 1 Jewell Street Hartford, Connecticut Tel: 860-232-6710 Visit the Bushnell Park Carousel website. Hungry? Just 0.4 mile from the park (350 Asylum Street), go to Black-Eyed Sally’s for barbecue and Southern food such as beef brisket, pulled pork, and fried chicken.  See more Places to Go: Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride Millicent Rogers Museum Authentic Native American Jewelry Jane Austen House Lacock Abbey England Cape Cod Lavender Farm Harwich  Comments are closed.
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