The Carousel at Golden Gate Park

A view of the Golden Gate Park Carousel

Here is a secret about me-I like Carousels. The older and more historic the better. I guess for me, it goes back to a simpler time and they are a real piece of Americana. During the so-called "Golden Age" of carousels (ca 1880-to the mid 1930's) there were about 7,000 classics in operation, now we have only about 300 left. I have been lucky to ride on three classics-at the Santa Monica Pier, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and now the one at Golden Gate Park.

The carousel at Golden Gate Park was built in 1914 by the Herschell-Spillman Company and has quite a history. It was first used in Lincoln Park in Los Angeles until 1931, then used at Lotus Isle in Portland, Or. from 1931-1933, then at the San Francisco World's Fair in 1939 and since 1940 housed at Golden Gate Park. It is all wood and has a menagerie of animals:

Love the colors and different animals.

A classic horse

Classic

Some of the artwork above on the carousel

Another view as it goes around

So vibrant 

It's a mighty lion

Going around

The carousel at Golden Gate Park is a classic and it is cheap ($2 adults, a buck for kids), so take a ride.