The collection includes rare 'jumpers' and 'standers'—terms for horses that either rise and fall on poles or remain stationary.
The museum serves as the primary repository for the National Carousel Association's archives.
The on-site carousel is a portable 1914 mechanism designed for transport by train or truck.
Many of the carved horses on display were originally painted with lead-based pigments, requiring specific conservation techniques.
The museum building formerly functioned as a factory, reflecting the historical industrial landscape of the Naugatuck Valley region.
The New England Carousel Museum preserves a vast collection of historic carousel figures and carved wooden horses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Housed in a former industrial building in Bristol, the museum serves as a center for the preservation of amusement art and carousel history. Exhibits showcase the craftsmanship of master woodcarvers from major manufacturers like Dentzel, Herschell-Spillman, and Illions. The site includes a fully operational 1914 Illions carousel which visitors can ride. In addition to carousel artifacts, the museum features changing galleries of fine art, antique toys, and mementos of American traveling carnivals.
Directly in front of the restored 1914 Illions carousel while the lights are illuminated.
Bring a camera to capture the intricate wood carvings that are often missed at a casual glance.
Check the museum's calendar for restoration workshops or carving demonstrations held periodically.
Plan your visit to coincide with one of the rotating special exhibits in the art gallery space.
Assuming all carousel horses are original to the same machine; many pieces have been gathered from disparate collections over decades.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays year-round.
