Albany Historic Carousel & Museum
Visit Historic Albany, Oregon where our talented community has volunteered over 143,000 hours to create something magical! Join us as we carve and paint our way into carousel history, as well as into the hearts and imagination of all that visit our studio.
This is truly a project by and for the community that enjoys a world-wide following. We have had visitors from numerous countries from every continent and many island nations, and average a good 2,000 visitors a month - this, while currently being four-ish years from being an operational carousel.
We are making a new carousel for downtown Albany, OR. Our animals and decorations are completely new designs, hand carved, and hand painted. The carousel will run on a restored 1909 mechanism. The Dentzel family has lent us many items from their personal collection to display in our museum. We welcome visitors to our studios and museum.
Visit Today
Come see the creative processes taking place every day of the week here, except Sunday. Visitors are welcome to drop in any time we are open to see the painters and carvers in action!
We have a number of finished animals to view and even a few to sit on. Each animal has its own unique story. Some are memorial peices, some represent family pets, while others are simply pieces of of whimsy. No matter which animal you are standing in front of you will be amazed by the level of detail being loveingly carved and painted into each one.
Bring your camera and take pictures of our animals and the work in progress. We are always happy to hold the camera for you so all of your group can be in the shot! In the lobby area you can watch the painters work on a number of animals and other hand-crafted projects. Please, however, always stay on the lobby side of the tables that separate the lobby from the painters area.
In the carving studio you can see and touch over two dozen carvings in progress - generally there will be a few carvers toiling away. You can talk with them about their work and why they volunteer.
The gift shop has a number carousel related items, many hand carved and painted by our volunteers. You can also purchase 18X24 inch posters of your favorite animal! Our gift shop also offers a penny smasher machine where you can add 4 different designs to your collection. Our gift also has dedicated museum space items on loan from the Dentzel family of considerable historic significance. Some of which will be housed in th museum in our new building.
In the back or our building remain only a few of the parts of the historic mechanism that will drive our carousel. There is also a set of blueprint drawing of our mechanism and photographs of the unit being assembled at a separate location by the volunteers. Currently the primary item to see out back now is the inner wall, which is being painted, that separates the public from the mechanical working of the carousel.
We are a working studio with volunteers of all skill levels participating in this project. No skill is required here, only a willingness to give to the community and to learn.
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