Central Park Carousel, Historic carousel in Central Park, Manhattan, United States.
Central Park Carousel is a horse carousel in the southern section of the Manhattan park featuring 57 hand-carved wooden horses and two chariots. The platform rotates slowly in a circle while the animals move up and down and a mechanical band organ plays.
The current carousel was built in 1908 for Coney Island and moved to its present location in 1951. It is the fourth carousel at this spot in the park after earlier versions were lost to fires and wear.
The wooden horses wear colorful saddle blankets and intricately carved manes that invite children to choose their favorite figure. The music comes from a mechanical organ system that has carried the same melodies through the park for decades.
The attraction is located in the southern section of Central Park near 65th Street and is accessible from several pathways. Access is provided by a short staircase or a ramp suitable for strollers.
The first drive came from a real horse or mule that walked in circles in an underground chamber. This construction allowed the mechanism to be sheltered from weather and enabled operation without a visible power source.
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