Flying Horse Carousel

Infobox_nrhp | name =Flying Horse Carousel
nrhp_type = nhl

---

caption = Carousel shelter building in 2008, during off-season, with horses in storage
location= Watch Hill, RI
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 18
lat_seconds = 32
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 51
long_seconds = 31
long_direction = W
locmapin = Rhode Island
area =
built =1876
architect= Dare,Charles W.F.,Co.
architecture= No Style Listed
designated= February 27, 1987cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1816&ResourceType=Building
title=Flying Horse Carousel (Westerly) |accessdate=2008-03-03|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = January 11, 1980cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Local
refnum=80000019:"For the carousel in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, see Flying Horses Carousel."The Flying Horse Carousel in Watch Hill within the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, United States is one of two in the state designated as National Historic Landmarks, along with the Crescent Park Looff Carousel in East Providence .

It may or may not be the oldest carousel in the nation, but it is certainly the oldest of its type ("in which the horses are suspended from a center frame"). The carousel is believed to have been built 1876 by the Charles W. Dare Company of New York. It was part of a traveling carnival until 1879 when the carnival was forced to abandon the carousel in Watch Hill. Unlike most carousels, there is no wooden platform to support the horses but rather, they are suspended from chains. As a result, the horses seem to "fly" as the ride increases speed, hence the carousel's name. Each horse has a tail and mane of real horsehair and a genuine leather saddle. Children younger than 12 years old may ride. In the middle of the ride, a device holding metal rings is lowered for riders to grab as they pass. The last ring is brass, granting the "winner" a free ride token.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.Note: A National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination document should be available upon request from the National Park Service for this site, but it appears not to be available on-line from the [http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do?searchtype=natreghome NPS Focus search site] .]

It is located at the end of Bay Street in Westerly.

References