‘National Carousel Day’ celebrated at Oaks Amusement Park

INCLUDES ‘RIDE THE CAROUSEL’ VIDEO | Learn more about this antique and traditional carnival ride that continues to thrill folks every day at historic Oaks Amusement Park …

The only place to celebrate National Carousel Day in the greater Portland area is here, at Oaks Amusement Park — by riding their historic one yourself. For free.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Just for fun, we took a little time off on Friday afternoon, June 25, and headed down to historic, nonprofit Oaks Amusement Park to celebrate National Carousel Day.

This celebration began in 2014 when National Carousel Association President Bette Largent and carousel historian, Ronald Hopkins founded National Merry-Go-Round Day. Also called Carousel Day, it was started honor William Schneider of Davenport, Iowa, who is credited with its invention – when he achieved registration of his design for such a carnival ride on July 25, 1871, at the U.S. Patent Office.

In this video, presented in Ultra 4k HD, you’ll see folks celebrating National Carousel Day by taking ride on the Oaks Park Carousel:

Originally constructed in 1912 by the Herschell-Spillman Company, this 48-foot-diameter, three-row, bi-level “menagerie carousel” – with 46 hand-carved wooden animals mounted on brass poles – was installed on the Oaks Park midway in 1926.

The Oaks Park Carousel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

15 years since it was fully restored, the Oaks Park Carousel still looks almost brand new.

During the winter of 2009, during their off-season, workers fully restored the ride. CLICK HERE to read about the unveiling celebration they held in June of 2010.

Because it hosts ten pairs of various animals, this carousel is known as a “Noah’s Ark” style attraction. Altogether, there are 19 horses, and seven other animals, including a rare kangaroo and sea dragon – all of them hand-carved here in the United States.

Celebrating National Carousel Day at Oaks Amusement Park are June and Laura Jordan, taking a ride on the historic Herschell-Spillman Company “menagerie carousel”.

During that afternoon, the simple pleasure of taking a twirl on the Oaks Park Carousel brought smiles to the faces of those who rode it.

But unlike almost any other special day of the year, if you think you missed it – you’re wrong! There is only one such day a year, all right, but riding the Oaks Park Carousel is free every day of the year that the historic park is open (well, okay, it closes in the winter).

Ready to ride?

CLICK HERE for more information, to purchase ride bracelets for the other rides in the amusement park, to learn about the parking fees – and to get directions to the park, which is on the east bank of the Willamette River, at 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, 97202.

Oaks Park ride operator Sam – a student at Lasalle High School, working his summer job – poses with the carousel’s only animal with a name: Ginger the Giraffe.

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