Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hershell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round
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Merry-Go-Round Building
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| Location | Tilden Regional Park |
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| Nearest city | Berkeley, California |
| Architect | Hershell-Spillman Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000480 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1976 |
The Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round is a super fun, old-fashioned carousel. It's located in Tilden Regional Park, close to Berkeley and Oakland. This amazing ride was built way back in 1911 by the Herschell-Spillman Company. They were based in Tonawanda, New York.
This carousel is one of the few very old carousels still working in the United States. Before it came to Tilden Park in 1948, it had been at other amusement parks. It spent time in San Bernardino, Ocean Beach, and Los Angeles. The Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round is so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site! The East Bay Regional Park District owns and takes care of this wonderful ride.
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A Ride Through Time: The Merry-Go-Round's Journey
The Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round started its life in 1912. It first operated at a park called Urbita Springs in San Bernardino. This was a "trolley park," a fun place people could reach by trolley car. It stayed there until 1916.
After that, the ride spent a short time in San Diego County. Then it was put away in storage for a while. From 1935 to 1937, it was at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Later, a new merry-go-round replaced it there.
In 1947, a manager from the East Bay Regional Park District, Richard Walpole, saw the carousel. He thought it would be a great addition to Tilden Park. The Davis family, who ran the carousel at Griffith Park, agreed to move it. So, on May 29, 1948, Ross Davis and his son John opened the Merry-Go-Round in its current spot in Tilden Park.
In 1950, the Merry-Go-Round got even bigger! It was changed from a three-row ride to a four-row ride. The horses on the very inside row are made of cast aluminum. The other horses are hand-carved from poplar wood. At the same time, the original boards around the top were replaced. The beautiful paintings you see on those boards were also added in 1950.
Even though it's had big repairs, like in 2008, most of the original machine is still there. It's still operated using an old-fashioned trolley car throttle. It also has a manual handbrake system. The original 7-1/2 horsepower Westinghouse electric motor still powers the ride!
Your Visit: When to Ride
The Merry-Go-Round is usually open on weekends all year long. During the summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it's also open on weekdays. It's open during Spring Break too!
Normally, the hours are from 11 AM to 5 PM. On summer weekends, it stays open a bit later, until 6 PM. You can also visit the Merry-Go-Round for a special Christmas event. This happens at night from Thanksgiving until Christmas.
Right next to the Merry-Go-Round, there's a food stand. You can buy drinks, lunch items, ice cream, cotton candy, and popcorn there. It's a great spot for a snack!
You can get to the Merry-Go-Round on weekends by bus. Take AC Transit bus line 67 to the Lake Anza/Merry-Go-Round stop.
Making it Shine: Bringing Back the Beauty
When the East Bay Regional Park District bought the Merry-Go-Round in the 1970s, they wanted it to look its best. They hired a team of talented artists to restore the animals. They also repainted the spinning tubs and chariots. The ride was painted in the colors you see today. These colors were chosen to match the beautiful park around it.
In 2008, the Merry-Go-Round closed for a big mechanical repair. The building itself was also improved. New weather-proof doors and windows were added. The old wooden floor was replaced with a new, custom-made wooden deck. The North Tonawanda Band Organ, which plays music in the center, also got a full repair. This big project cost $700,000.
In November 2015, all the Merry-Go-Round animals, the spinning tub, and chariots were repainted again. They used the same colors from the 1970s restoration. Some of the original artists from the 1970s even helped! This 2015 project was a team effort. It involved Hawk's Eye Studio, Sycamore Concessions, and the East Bay Regional Park District.
On the Big Screen: Film Appearances
The Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round has even been in movies! Before it moved to Tilden Park, it appeared in the film So Ends Our Night (1941).
More recently, the Merry-Go-Round was a filming location for Remember Me (2016). This movie featured famous actors like Rita Moreno and Steve Goldbloom.
