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Elitch Gardens Carousel, also known as Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6 or as the Kit Carson County Carousel, is a 1905
Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6 was manufactured in 1905 for Elitch Gardens. It was used at the park every summer until 1928, when the park acquired a new carousel also made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC #51) and sold the existing carousel and band organ to Kit Carson County for $1,200, including the cost of delivery by train to Burlington. During the Depression, the carousel spent six years in storage, re-entering use in 1937.
Restoration of the carousel's band organ began in 1976. The Kit Carson County Carousel was designated a National Historic Site in 1978 and a
Census of Operating North American Carousels
National Carousel Association. January 14, 2007.
Kit Carson County Carousel
from the Colorado Historical Society {{Registered Historic Places 1905 establishments in Colorado Amusement rides introduced in 1905 Amusement-related National Historic Landmarks Buildings and structures in Kit Carson County, Colorado Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado Carousels on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado Elitch Gardens Theme Park National Historic Landmarks in Colorado National Register of Historic Places in Kit Carson County, Colorado Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters carousels Tourist attractions in Kit Carson County, Colorado
Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B. Auchy and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphi ...
carousel
A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (International English), or galloper (British English) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The seats are tradit ...
located in Burlington, Colorado
Burlington is the List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule city that is the county seat of and the most populous community in Kit Carson County, Colorado, Kit Carson County, Colorado, United States. The city populati ...
.
History
Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #6 was manufactured in 1905 for Elitch Gardens. It was used at the park every summer until 1928, when the park acquired a new carousel also made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC #51) and sold the existing carousel and band organ to Kit Carson County for $1,200, including the cost of delivery by train to Burlington. During the Depression, the carousel spent six years in storage, re-entering use in 1937.
Restoration of the carousel's band organ began in 1976. The Kit Carson County Carousel was designated a National Historic Site in 1978 and a National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...
in 1987. Restoration efforts continued in 1987 with work to restore the original paint to the animals, chariots, and the outer rim, new siding applied to the carousel building and Victorian-inspired landscaping. A second restoration to the carousel animals took place in 1992. Grants financed research into and restoration of the carousel's original lighting, machinery room, moldings on the paintings, and the Wurlitzer band organ in 1997.
1981 theft and return
In May 1981, thieves removed three small horses and a donkey from the carousel during a heavy rainstorm. The animals were later recovered from aSalina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,889.
In the early 1800s, the Kanza tribal land reached eastward from the middle of the Kansas Territory. In 1858 ...
, warehouse and returned to the carousel following a parade through Burlington in October 1981. Commemorative markers on the carousel mark the recovered animals' locations.
Carousel details
:Type: 3 rows, Park, Stationary, all wood composition :Figures: 25 standing horses, 4 chariots; standing horses include 2 burros, 3 camels, 1 dog, 3 deer, 3 giraffes, 3 goats, 1 hippocampus, 1 lion, 1 tiger, and 3 zebras :Music: 1909Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments ...
155 "Monster" military band organ
It is the only antique carousel in America retaining its original paint on both the scenery panels and the animals, and it is the only surviving menagerie (having other animals in addition to horses) carousel made by Philadelphia Toboggan Company.National Carousel Association. January 14, 2007.
See also
*Amusement rides on the National Register of Historic Places
List of amusement rides, Amusement rides currently and previously listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) are located throughout the United States. These ride listings consist mainly of 54 carousels (49 listed and 5 deli ...
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Kit Carson County, Colorado
*List of National Historic Landmarks in Colorado
This is a list of National Historic Landmarks in Colorado. There are 29 National Historic Landmarks in Colorado, two of which extend into New Mexico.
__TOC__
National Historic Landmarks in Colorado
See also
* L ...
References
External links
Kit Carson County Carousel
from the Colorado Historical Society {{Registered Historic Places 1905 establishments in Colorado Amusement rides introduced in 1905 Amusement-related National Historic Landmarks Buildings and structures in Kit Carson County, Colorado Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado Carousels on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado Elitch Gardens Theme Park National Historic Landmarks in Colorado National Register of Historic Places in Kit Carson County, Colorado Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters carousels Tourist attractions in Kit Carson County, Colorado