Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum (North Tonawanda, New York)

 museum, carousel, historic landmark, historical building

The Allan Herschell Company was founded in 1915 in North Tonawanda, New York and was the fourth in a series of companies in the community which manufactured carousels and other amusement park rides. One of the most prolific maker of carousels, Herschell specialized in producing portable machines which could be used by traveling carnival operators. The Company produced over 3,000 hand carved wooden carousels during its operations at Tonawanda.

The Company maintained its North Tonawanda operation until the late 1950's, when it moved to Buffalo. It continued as a locally owned firm until it was sold in the early 1970's to the Chance Manufacturing of Wichita, Kansas, a rival maker of amusement rides. Of the 148 antique, hand-carved wooden carousels still in existence in the United States and Canada today, 71 were manufactured in North Tonawanda in one of the four Herschell companies.

Listed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Sites, the former factory opened as a museum in July 1983. Utilizing the seven interconnected structures which once housed all of the manufacturing components of the factory, the museum houses exhibits and demonstrations that interpret the operation of the factory and features an operational 1916 Allan Herschell carousel in the original roundhouse.

www.carrouselmuseum.org/