Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum

I liked this museum because it has a merry-​go-​round that I rode on, and it has a collection of carousel animals. I liked the part where band organ rolls were recorded. I could imagine recording a waltz, such as «Over the Waves,» «Sidewalks of New York,» and «The Blue Danube Waltz.» Admission in inexpensive, and it includes a complimentary token for the ride.

This is a fantastic little museum! I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time, ever since I’d heard about it.
This is the only carousel museum that is housed inside a carousel factory, which gives it some extra cachet. The exhibits take you through the production of a carousel, from the carving of the animals (with carving demonstrations going on,) to painting, to the actual testing facility, where an original carousel is in working order. They also have a children’s carousel in the children’s area, with miniature horses.
They also have a section devoted to Wurlitzer, which goes hand in hand with Herschell, as they purchased the organ factory from Herschell, and produced band organs for the carousels. It has the production of the music rolls, from start to finish.
One carousel ride is included with admission, but you can buy extra ones at the gift shop. It’s well worth the extra rides, this is a special carousel, and a piece of living history.

What a surprise this place was. All the exhibits were great to see, about the growth of the company. What really impressed me was how family friendly it was between the kiddie carousel and all the rides outside. A while back I used to live in NT and never gave this place a try. I’m glad I finally did. Over all very simple and enjoyable for an experience that is not long and drawn out too. I would bring my son back alone for the rides outside. The staff was friendly. I’m knocking off one star as the older gentleman who operated the regular carousel literally fell asleep while my son and I were on the ride. Minus that little issue, I can see myself going back with the family next summer again.

Great museum to have fun and learn.
Regular carousel for adults and children to ride and really cute little one for tiny tots!
On Wednesday through Saturday the kiddie ride area is open.
This is the home of some of the oldest carved animals in the country.

I’m going to add this to the «exceeded my expectations» list. It is in fact a carrousel museum of a very prominent carnival/​carrousel maker. That being said I, I set the excitement bar pretty low and expected the kids to embarrass me to the point of leaving in 10 minutes. Apparently they added newly restored mid century rides to the property (in addition to the 2 functioning carrousels they had already) that are an absolute blast. Wooden tokens are $.50 a piece and get you one ride. The staff is SUPER friendly and patient with all the kids. If you are looking for something to do with the kids wait for the next nice day and head over to North Tonawanda. I even went on some of the rides!

Stopped into this little museum in North Townawanda. It was a perfect little stop to use a bit of time before dinner. Lots of history, and some real pretty wooden horses. Curator says more old time rides for kids coming soon. Nice display of wurlitzer pipe organs. Cute gift shop. Knowledgeable local volunteers working the place. Took about five to seven rounds on the working Herschell carousel. To great tunes on the band organ. It doesn’t take long to visit, but its worth it.

Honestly, I never thought I could get so excited about a museum devoted to amusement park carousels. But, this is a great museum thanks to its impressive collection of original equipment, archival material, interpretive signage and volunteers demonstrating how they carved the horses.
Every minute I felt like i was learning so much. Who knew that in the early 1900s carousels were considered the center piece «adult thrill ride» of amusement park midways?! (they used to spin a *lot* faster and were considered too dangerous for kids) Or that the Herschel companies created the majority of the 7000 wooden carrousel rides ever produced — of which less then 200 remain? (they went on to produce aluminum and fiberglass horses as well as pioneer the ubiquitous kiddie rides found in amusement parks today before being sold to a competitor in 1970) Or that originally carrousel horses had real horse hair tails but that proved to be a maintenance headache?
There are two indoor carrousels in operation at the museum — one child-​sized one and a bigger one that both children and adults can ride. The museum is working on opening up a whole «kiddie land» area outside in 2012 that will have 4 or 5 operating childrens rides.