We drove into Hartford, CT to visit Bushnell Park and ride on its main attraction, the Bushnell Park Carousel. We were able to park across the street from the entrance. The rain had stopped not long before we arrived so the walk was a dry one. The building that houses the carousel was specially designed for it. This carousel, which is 97 years old, was brought to Hartford from Canton, Ohio.
Built in 1914 by Simon Stein and Harry Goldstein, owners of the Artistic Carousel Company, the ride has 48 horses, 2 chariots and a Wurlitzer 153 band organ.
The outer row of horses has more detail than the inner rows. 
Some have their tongues sticking out. 
This chariot has a dragon on the side. 
Two veterans were there for rides, and a bit of nostalgia. 
We also visited the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, managers of the Bushnell Park Carousel. We wish we could share some photos; sadly, they do not allow photos to be taken in their museum. Their collection of carousel figures is very extensive and includes about 200 examples of horses and menageries. Menageries are figures which are not horses (pigs, cows, rabbits, etc.). Wood was always the preferred material until the last 20 years. Now most are made from fiberglass. Other materials used have included aluminum, steel and plastic. Tomorrow we will be traveling to Scranton, PA to visit the Trolley Museum.
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