Flying Horses Carousel facts for kids
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Flying Horses
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The Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest operating platform carousel in America.
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Charles W.F Dare Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000342 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 27, 1979 |
| Designated NHL | February 27, 1987 |
The Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest operating platform carousel in America. It's a super old and special ride! You can find it in the fun, historic town of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. This town is on Martha's Vineyard, an island off the coast.
The carousel was probably first in New York City. It moved to the island in the 1880s. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Then, in 1987, it became a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important part of American history. It's also one of the few carousels left where you can still try to grab a brass ring as you ride!
Contents
A Ride Through Time: The Carousel's Story
Oak Bluffs is on the northeast side of Martha's Vineyard. It started as part of Edgartown a long time ago. In 1835, a Methodist camp called Wesleyan Grove was set up here. This camp is also a National Historic Landmark!
Later, in 1866, the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company was created. They helped plan the town as a summer resort. It was one of the first planned communities in the country.
How Old Is This Ride?
No one knows the exact year the carousel was built. But its art looks a lot like pictures from an 1870s catalog. This catalog was from the Charles W.F. Dare Company. They made many carousels back then. One expert thinks the same artist who drew for the catalog also decorated this carousel. This means it was likely built between 1876 and 1878.
The Carousel's Journey
In 1884, a man named F.O. Gordon from New York City bought the carousel. He moved it to Cottage City, which is what Oak Bluffs was called then. There's a stamp inside one of its panels that says "Coney Island #4." This makes people think it was used in New York before coming to the island.
The carousel was first placed near the entrance to Oak Bluffs Harbor. In 1889, the town of Oak Bluffs bought it. They moved it to where it is now, at the start of Circuit Avenue. This street is the town's main area for shops and fun.
The town sold the carousel to Joseph Turnell in 1896. After that, it had a few different owners. Finally, in 1986, the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust bought it. They help protect important places on the island.
A National Treasure
The Flying Horses Carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It's one of the two oldest carousels still running in the United States. The other is the Flying Horse Carousel in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. That one is also a Dare Company carousel and a National Historic Landmark!
What Makes the Flying Horses Special?
The carousel sits on a triangle-shaped piece of land in Oak Bluffs. It's at the bottom of Circuit Avenue. Its address is 33 Oak Bluffs Avenue. Since it came to the island, it has been inside a simple, one-story building. The building has wood shingles and a low roof.
The Horses and Their Look
The carousel is about 36 feet (11 meters) wide. It has 14 panels that spread out from the middle. These panels connect to the top roof. They also hold up the horses and carriages. Even though it's called "Flying Horses," the horses don't actually move up and down. They stay still as the carousel spins around.
The horses still have their original "oxide eyes." But their original manes, made of horsehair, are gone. The carousel has a pattern of horses and carriages: a chariot, then two pairs of horses, then another chariot, then three pairs of horses. This pattern repeats.
The panels that decorate the carousel show pictures of horses and ocean scenes. By the 1980s, these panels needed fixing. They were replaced with local scenes painted by an artist from the island. But when the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust bought the carousel, they fixed it up. They brought back its original look, including the historic paintings by the Dare Company artist.
How It Works and the Brass Ring
The carousel used to run on steam power. But in 1900, it was changed to electricity. A 10-horsepower motor in the basement powers it now. The gears and belts that connect the motor to the carousel were also fixed in the 1980s.
The ride has a special "ring assembly." This is where riders can try to grab a brass ring. If you're lucky enough to grab a brass ring, you get a free ride!
The carousel plays music from a 1923 Wurlitzer #103 Band Organ. It's a classic sound for a classic ride!
