Merry-Go-Round

 carousel, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places

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The Hershell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round was originally built in 1911 in New York by the Hershell-Spillman Company. It was first used in San Bernardino, California. From 1916 to 1927, the carousel was operated at Oceanside, California. Except for two years at Griffith Park in Los Angeles from 1935 to 1937, the merry-go- round remained in storage, until it was installed at its present location at the entrance of Lake Anza in Tilden Park, Contra Costa County, in 1948.

This classic sixteen section, three abreast 1911 vintage carousel retains its 39 original hand-carved poplar wood animals. In addition to horses, there are 13 other types of animals included in the menagerie: two giraffes, two roosters, two zebras, two frogs, a sea dragon, a tiger, a cat, a dog, a deer, a lion, a stork, a goat, and a pig. The frogs are unique examples of extremely rare carved wooded objects.
The carousel was altered in 1950 with the addition of a fourth row of cast aluminum animals.

The interior cornice is entirely original, with 32 hand-painted decorative scenes. The outer cornice was altered also in 1950, enlarged (though retaining its 16 carved wood gargoyles), and decorated with 16 additional hand-painted scenic panels in the same style as those on the interior.

The entire facility is housed in a wood frame structure, the plans for which were designed in 1937 by J. Wilson of the Los Angeles Parks Department. It features a 5,000 square foot lamella dome of truss less construction.

National Register of Historic Places # 76000480