Smithsonian National Carousel Reopens on the National Mall
After nearly three years of restoration, the Smithsonian National Carousel has officially reopened on the National Mall. The historic attraction, originally from the desegregated Gwynn Oak Amusement Park, features 54 hand-carved horses, a sea monster, a pig, and two chariots.
A Symbol of Progress: The carousel was originally located at the desegregated Gwynn Oak Amusement Park near Baltimore, Maryland.
A History of Resilience
The carousel's journey to the National Mall is a story of preservation and progress. Before moving to Washington, D.C., it operated at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park, a venue that became a landmark for civil rights.
- August 28, 1963: Gwynn Oak Amusement Park was desegregated.
- 1972: Hurricane Agnes caused significant damage to the park, forcing the carousel into storage.
- Smithsonian Acquisition: The Smithsonian acquired the historic ride to replace an aging carousel on the Mall.
A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony with Powerful Symbolism
The reopening ceremony was marked by a poignant tribute to the carousel's history. The first riders were African American adults who had been among the first to desegregate the carousel in the 1960s.
Sharon Langley, the first Black child to ride the carousel on its desegregation day in 1963, also returned to ride again. This time, she climbed aboard a horse named "Freedom Rider," a lasting tribute to that historic day.
"Freedom Rider": The horse ridden by Sharon Langley during the reopening ceremony is named as a permanent reminder of the carousel's role in the Civil Rights Movement.