Carousel of Light facts for kids
The Carousel of Light is a special carousel created by Lance Shinkle, an artist from Falmouth, Massachusetts. It features beautiful horses that he carved by hand from recycled Eastern White Pine wood. This unique carousel brings joy to many people.
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Creating the Magical Carousel
Lance Shinkle started carving the horses for the carousel in 1988. It took him about five years to carve enough horses to make the carousel work. Besides the horses, he also carved two special chariots that people in wheelchairs can use. He even carved a mermaid sculpture named Bubbles, who blows real bubbles!
In 1993, Lance bought an old carousel frame from the Allan Herschell Company, built in 1947. He painted the panels on the carousel with scenes from Falmouth and Cape Cod, making it even more special.
Where Did the Carousel Travel?
The Carousel of Light first opened to the public in July 1993 at the Barnstable County Fair. After that, it moved to Mashpee Commons and stayed there for two years. Later, it spent a summer on Main Street in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The carousel even traveled to Grand Central Station in New York City for the Christmas season!
Bringing the Carousel Home to Falmouth
In 1999, Lance Shinkle moved to California to care for his sick father. He took the carousel with him, but it eventually started to fall apart.
In 2013, Lance gathered a group of people who had helped him with the carousel before. They formed a non-profit organization called The Carousel of Light, Inc. This group's goal is to "bring joy to children of all ages" by keeping the carousel safe and working for future generations. Thanks to their efforts, the carousel returned to Falmouth in February 2014.
A New Beginning in Falmouth
After a lot of hard work and repairs, the Carousel of Light opened again in the summer of 2014. Its new home was on the grounds of the Mullen-Hall School in Falmouth. That first summer, over 15,000 people enjoyed riding the carousel! The Carousel of Light has continued to operate at this location every summer since then, bringing smiles to many faces.
