Merry-Go-Round
| Type | Rotating Ride |
|---|---|
| Built | 1896 |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Closed | 1937 (park closure) |
| Vehicle Type | Wooden Animal Sculptures |
The Merry-Go-Round was an amusement device where riders would mount wooden sculptures of animals that would simulate a riding movement along a vertical pole for each sculpture. It was operated by electricity and a central organ provided music. There were likely multiple merry-go-rounds, but they are separate from the Carrousel. In 1906, it was moved to the building that housed the first Dancing Pavilion located near the Park Entrance and near the Ferris Wheel.[1]
In 1897, rides were free for children under 10 years old and ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the park season.[2]
Description
The Merry-Go-Round when the park first opened in 1896 was described as having "beasts and birds and dreadful-looking animals."[3]
Events
The ride lost power due to a lightning strike in June 1902.[4]
Injuries
In July 1902, a 50-year-old woman fell from the ride unconscious.[5]
A boy fell from the ride during a charity event in July 1905.[6]
A woman was injured when she was thrown from one of the merry-go-round rides in June 1912.[7]
See Also
- The Carrousel - Often called the "merry-go-round," but is a separate ride.
References
- ↑ "Auspicious Day for Park Opening." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 30 April 1906. Pg. 6.
- ↑ Ad. Columbus Evening Dispatch. 31 July 1897. Pg. 6.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Opened." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 13 June 1896. Pg. 5.
- ↑ "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 14 June 1902. Pg. 6.
- ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. 13 July 1902. Pg. 8.
- ↑ "Little Children of the Poor Have Day of Pleasure." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 6 July 1905. Pg. 1.
- ↑ "Thrown from Merry-Go-Round." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 20 June 1912. Pg. 5.