Riverfront Park Carousel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Riverfront Park Carousel or Looff Carousel
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 Location in Spokane riverfront area
Location in Greater Spokane area
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Riverfront Park Spokane, Washington |
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| Nearest city | Spokane |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Charles I. D. Looff |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001362 |
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 1977 |
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The Riverfront Park Carousel, also known as the Looff Carousel, is a famous carousel located in Spokane, Washington. It was built in 1909 by a skilled craftsman named Charles I. D. Looff. He created it as a special gift for his daughter, Emma Vogel, and her husband, Louis Vogel. They owned a fun place called Natatorium Park in Spokane. This historic carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 19, 1977. This means it's recognized as an important part of history!
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What Makes the Looff Carousel Special?
The Looff Carousel is more than just a ride; it's a piece of art and history. It still has its original 1900 Ruth & Sohn band organ. This organ used to play music using special paper rolls. Today, a digital recording of the music is played because the old rolls are too fragile. The organ was made in Waldkirch, Germany, and Looff brought it to the United States around 1900.
Hand-Carved Animals and Fun Games
The carousel is home to 54 beautiful horses. Each one was carved by hand by Charles I. D. Looff himself! Besides the horses, you can also find other unique animals. There's one giraffe, one tiger, and even one goat. For those who prefer not to ride an animal, there are two chariots available.
One of the most exciting parts of the ride is the ring dispenser. As you go around, riders on the outside can grab a ring. The goal is to toss the ring into a clown's mouth. If you manage to catch the special brass ring and get it into the clown's mouth, you win a free ride!
Where is the Carousel Located?
Since 1975, the carousel has been located in Riverfront Park in Spokane. This park is on the south bank of the Spokane River. Riverfront Park was built for the 1974 World's Fair, which was a big event. After the fair ended, some of its buildings stayed in the park. One of these buildings, which was a German beer garden during the fair, became the carousel's new home in the summer of 1975.
A New Home for the Carousel
In 2014, people in Spokane voted to improve Riverfront Park. As part of this plan, a brand new building was designed for the carousel. This new building opened in 2018. It has more space for people to wait in line and for special events. It also has large windows. These windows let you see the Spokane River from inside and offer great views of the carousel from outside.
Images for kids
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Closeup of some of the hand carved carousel horses
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