A Carousel for Missoula, Hand-carved carousel in Missoula, Montana.
Description
A Carousel for Missoula is a hand-carved wooden ride featuring 38 horses and two chariots positioned within a circular building near Caras Park. The animals rest on a restored 1918 frame that serves as the centerpiece of this community-built attraction.
History
The project started in 1991 when cabinetmaker Chuck Kaparich acquired a restored 1918 carousel frame. This original structure came from the Alan Herschell-Spillman Company and became the foundation for building the community-made attraction.
Culture
Local families shaped the carousel by adopting and designing individual horses for the ride. Each personalized pony tells a story of community members who wanted to leave their mark on the project.
Practical
The carousel sits in a circular building easily accessible from nearby Caras Park and operates throughout the year. Hours change seasonally, so checking ahead ensures you arrive when the ride is open for visitors.
Did you know?
The ride houses the largest band organ in continuous operation in the US, equipped with 400 wooden pipes. This remarkable mechanical instrument recreates sounds from 23 different musical instruments, creating a distinctive audio experience.
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Montana offers a range of landscapes from the peaks of Glacier National Park to the central plains. The state has several mountain routes including the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Beartooth Highway, both exceeding 3,000 meters in elevation. Glacial lakes such as Flathead Lake and Lake McDonald...
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