GETTING HERE: (Traveling); located on the corner of 1st Street and Washington. It's right near Bryant Park and the Willamette River in Albany, OR. MOOD: Ready for some fun and laughter! I mean, it's a carousel! The next best thing to Disneyland. REVIEW: This is so cool! Bummed that we got there just a few moments before closing so I couldn't play tourist and shop the gift shop. :) But, we got to ride twice on the Carousel and it was fun! There's a ring toss/game of sorts but I wasn't able to figure it out. The Carousel is gorgeous! So pretty and while we were short on time and couldn't ask questions, I was able to infer that people sponsor(ed) the horses (for upkeep?) as there were gold plaques about a few of the horses. What a great opportunity to support historic Albany! Recommended! 10 stars and a must-do if in the Albany area of Oregon. read more

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I've always loved carousel horses. I wanted a full size one for my dream living room when I was young. I did collected small carousel horse ornaments for my Christmas trees. So, when I realized Albany had a carousel with a museum I had to go. The place is amazing and more than horses. There is no entrance fee. I checked out the painting studio, then the carousel, with its snack bar. I saw all those animals featured on their website go round & round and up & down in three dimensional real life. I took lot of pictures and video. I joined a tour led by a volunteer. Learning about the local lady that started it all. Saw more carousel animals in basement along with the carving shop while three artists worked on future animals to be. I purchased a token to ride the carousel ($2) and nearly walked around the whole menagerie before deciding on an animal to sit upon. After debating salmon, elephant, orca, bear, zebra etc; I wound up on a horse named Calapooia. I didn't notice any xmas ornaments in the gift but I did buy a tee-shirt of Guardian the Hippocampus and a post card of Calapooia. They had post cards for all the animals on the carousel. I also got to press a penny while I still could. I had a great time. I was a kid again, all the people were happy. It was like visiting a small Disneyland. And for those happiest smiles I gladly left a donation for their future endeavors. read more

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Oh, I loved this. My BFF lives in Salem, so I know they have a carousel since we've visited with them. But I don't even know how I found out Albany had a carousel a couple weeks ago and I'm really glad we did. It was worth the 50 minute drive from Eugene. We went on a Wednesday, because they have happy hour on Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m. (they close at 4). Rides were half off (usually $2 per ride token). Some of the concessions are half off as well which was nice! And don't sleep on the concession stand; it's got a great menu and it's reasonably priced. Since I was there with my toddler, an adult was required to ride with her to make sure she was secure (there are not restraints on the animals) and for that reason, the accompanying adult was free. My sister and I took turns on baby duty, though we did all go on at least once (so that used two tokens). And they do a free ride as the final ride, so we all had fun on that one too. This place is run by volunteer power. So thankful for them all so we can have a great time! The historic part of the carousel is that the mechanism is a Dentzel 1909 piece donated by the great-grandson of the founder of Dentzel Carousel Corporation and the National Carousel Association. The objective was to enchant people with the finest carousel in the world, and they may well have met the brief here. There is a menagerie of animals here and they are all beautiful. The outside animals are stationary, and the inner two rows are "jumpers" (they move up and down). The animals are all hand-carved. I think I heard on the video playing in the souvenir shop that the outer animals cost $10,000 and $7,500 for the jumpers, and they're worth it because of the beauty and labor expended. Downstairs there's a museum, which we didn't have an opportunity to visit this time. But I am really looking forward to checking it out. The gift shop (also volunteer-run) has some really nice items, from carousel-specific to more generic gift items. I just wish they had more for smaller children, because I wanted to buy a t-shirt for my toddler but had no luck. But there is a sticker for every one of the animals on the carousel! I bought a couple stickers for the two my daughter rode on. Each of the animals has names, too, which would have made my search easier but I managed. They have a few rooms for rent, so you can have parties or events here. You can also join as a member at one of several levels and get a variety of benefits, one of which is unlimited rides. I can imagine this would be a magical place for a birthday party. I really have to applaud the thought and care that went into creating this attraction. They have some fantastic events; their 21-and-older Derby Day event is sold out weeks in advance. They have weekly story time events, and if we're in Eugene when they happen we may drive up for it. There was a tea, and a Mother's Day event is planned (with a free ride for the moms!). They even have a weekly sensory friendly period, when the carousel runs quiet (yay for DE&I!). I really appreciate the focus on inclusivity here, from the aforementioned sensory days to weight inclusion. There's even a Tea-Rex dinosaur themed tea party coming up! They also give back to the community, such as their carving program for teens to learn the craft. It's simply wonderful. There's free street parking on the blocks around the carousel. Besides that, parking gets a little tricky so you'll want to consult their webpage to see what the parking options are. I cannot wait to visit again with my daughter for more fun rides and to explore the museum. (Review #2400, May 8, 2026.) read more

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Awesome lil museum that is so amazing! They carve each & every animal for the carousel! Each ride is $2 & you get the ride token from The gift shop or the ice cream Counter. Great staff! Everyone was so happy & helpful! Def a must see if you are in Albany. read more

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What a fun little place! Stopped in town and saw this place and checked it out, it was cheap and little kids are free. Well maintained and fun! Little snack/ice cream bar too. Definitely check it out for a fun ride! read more

This one of our favorite places ever! The carousel is beautiful! Honestly breathtaking! My children love to ride and I love to watch them enjoy it! At only $2 a ride, it's cheeper than the fair and 100% nicer! I highly recommend. The volunteers are very nice too! read more

A must visit when traveling to Oregon. The carousel is all hand made and the museum curators provide a short but very informative tour of their carousel and how it is maintained and the rides created from concept to finished ride. 5 stars for the experience. They also have a cool snack shop with favorite ice cream treats. Young families may also schedule their family get togethers in their party room. A special way to enjoy a day at the Historic Carousel and Museum. read more

This place was such a lovely spot. My husband loves carousels so we had to come here while visiting. The animals on the carousel are so varied and beautifully painted. We rode a number of times with my daughter and son-in-law. Three of us were lucky enough to grab the brass ring more than once for a free ride which was so fun!! They even wiped the animals down after a few rides, so Clean. Pop into the gift store afterwards for some beautiful trinkets. This is definitely worth a stop read more

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This was a small but nice place , Very fun and informative yet , the Ladies were so nice , the tour was smaller than expected but it was a wonderful experience and the effort that goes in to the maintaining and carving it amazing there is, a lot to choose from in the gift shop the age of things was amazing it is also very handicap friendly especially for the restrooms which is hard to find now days , I would recommend everyone to go see it once .Please donate as much as you can when entering to keep this place up and running It was a reasonable place to take the young kids and the smiles giggling , laughter was neat to see & hear I would recommend that you eat first I was not personally impressed with the Hamburger there but that's not to say the rest of the food isn't real good just the Hamburger wasn't to my liking ,,,,GO TRY IT OUT,,,, read more

An amazing and unique historic place to visit in Albany. I never knew carousel can be such a historic artifact, please visit to support the museum and the volunteers. Must join the tour and you will learn and appreciate the incredible work of the community. The tour guide and the volunteers are all fabulous people, I applaud their dedication to maintain this little gem in the small town of Albany. Words cannot describe how much I love this place and the handcrafted art. read more

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The Historic Carousel & Museum located in Albany Oregon is a must see attraction. If you're thinking it's just an off the shelf carousel ride, like you find in some modern shopping malls, I can assure you that it's nothing of the kind! Within the beautiful octagonal structure, you'll find the amazing carousel with its unique menagerie of hand carved animals. They are each beautiful and intriguing...and for just $2 you can get up close and go for a spin on the historic carousel platform. There's just something magical about a carousel, the accompanying sounds from the mechanical music machine and the possibility of grabbing that lucky brass ring as you go around and around. If this doesn't make you smile I just don't know what will. By the way, get a lucky brass ring (not all of them are) and you've just won a free ride! Be sure to take a guided tour downstairs where a dedicated group of volunteers continue to hand carve more magical creatures for the carousel. It's fantastic to see how it's done and also get a sneak peek at the animals coming to life through the passionate work of these artists. This attraction is truly an example of how the enthusiasm and vision of one person can change an entire community. The idea to create a carousel in the little town of Albany came from Wendy Kirbey. It's a fascinating story and worth searching out online if you're interested. Over time it became the heart and soul of revitalizing a town that was losing businesses and moving in the wrong direction. Now, visitors from all around the world travel here to experience the carousel and museum. Admission and tours are free and rides are only $2 I'll wrap this up with some of my favorite movies with carousel scenes: - "Something Wicked This Way Comes" with its haunting carousel capable of taking years off your life (moving in reverse) or adding years (moving forward). - "Strangers on a Train" Hitchcock uses a carousel gone wild in a scene that will put you on the edge of your "saddle!" - "Mary Poppins" where anything is possible as the carousel horses leap off the revolving platform and take Mary, Burt and the children on a spirited ride through the English countryside. Do you have a favorite carousel scene from another movie? There are many more not mentioned here! read more

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Wow, what a cool and fun museum with an actual working carousel! This is an indoor carousel that is amazing! There's no same animal on the carousel. The ones on the outside edges goes up and down and the kids can collect rings and who ever gets the gold ring gets a free carousel ride. It's pretty cheap, I think it was a couple bucks for a bag of tokens and we must've road it 8-10x's. The creativity and art work that's been hand painted on each animal is incredible. I do suggest to explore the whole museum if it's your first time and learn some history of it, pretty interesting. There was a Santa to take pictures with during Christmas time. There's a snack shop also. The tables had cool paintings of animals on them also. There's also a gift shop to buy souvenirs. There's clean restrooms and parking. I highly recommend this place to everyone all ages especially for kids. read more

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Great place for anyone who wants to feel like a kid again. Concession food was typical, popcorn, ice cream cones, nachos, sodas, chicken & cheese sandwiches, etc. Quite noisy with lots of little kids. read more

This place was really cool. We got a tour of the downstairs and where volunteers work to make the . The history and how this place works is really amazing. I was really impressed. I wasn't so impressed with the gift store but that's ok. The carousel itself was beautiful! Really well done. Worth checking out if you are in town! read more

Albany Historic Carousel & Museum - Museums Near Me - Albany, Oregon

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We were traveling down the 5 from Lake Oswego to Ashland when we learned of a terrible accident and freeway closure on the 5 freeway m. We got off in Albany as we'd rather explore the town then sit in traffic. This came up as a great place to visit and some even said it should be on your bucket list. We spent about an hour there and could've stayed longer. We took the free tour to the carving room and where the carousel animals are painted. All the volunteers there are very nice and enthusiastic about carousels. For two dollars, you can ride on the carousel and I felt like a little kid again. We had no idea there was so much history surrounding carousels. We will stop back from time to time to see which animals have been switched into the current carousel. They each have their own history. read more

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We had an extraordinary experience at the carousel and will definitely be back! Every single volunteer is so passionate about the work they do and it is intoxicating! Walking in we were stunned by the colors and uniqueness of each animal. They are each a work of art! We chatted with a couple volunteers then Faye offered to take us downstairs to the museum and carving room. Her knowledge and love of the history of carousel horses was very impressive! She introduced us to Jack, the master carver, and I could have stayed all day! The carving room is awe inspiring and a must see! The carousel is truly magical and should be on everyone's bucket list! read more

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This place is very special. The volunteers are very passionate about what they're doing and they make everyone feel very welcome. Ray welcomed us and gave us the history! Thank you for making our experience and Oregon. Very awesome. read more

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I was unsure about this place before going, and when I found out it was created in the 2000s, I wasn't sure how "historic" I considered it, but after learning about the mechanism that runs the carousel and seeing the talent of the people who create the animals, I was sold. All the animals are hand carved and painted, mostly by volunteers! If you go, the carving room is a must! read more

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I am so disappointed! These are not wooden! They are resin aka plastic. How misrepresented. They are beautifully made but look cheap.

Worth dropping by. They artistry is just beautiful. You don't have to pay to just walk in and see the different animals on the carousel. The room it is in is also amazing. I think it was $2 to ride is you are interested. Free parking around too. read more

Albany Historic Carousel & Museum - Museums Near Me - Albany, Oregon

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Even the door handles on the front doors are I intriguing. What an interesting place! There is a large and beautiful carousel in the lobby with over 30 animals in it. All stunning and all hand carved from bass wood. The carving shop is downstairs. The paint shop is upstairs. Don't miss an opportunity to see both. Tours are free and soooo very interesting! All the animals were produced right here in the buildIng by volunteers. There is room for 15(?) more animals on the current carousel and there are plans to make more than that so they can be swapped out for maintenance and to make room for seasonal ones. See my photos for what's coming in the next few years. It takes 7-8 years to go from concept to clear coat. Want to volunteer!!!??? read more

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Albany carousel is super pretty and good. We did the tour after riding the carousel which took you behind the scenes. My favorite part was seeing the animals that were being carved. I also enjoyed learning about the history read more

Albany Historic Carousel & Museum - Museums Near Me - Albany, Oregon

Not only is the carousel itself gorgeous, but the staff of volunteers truly bring its story and history to life! Visitors can take a guided tour of their museum which showcases a breathtaking collection of antique Dentzel carousel animals, and a few from other famous makers as well as visit the carving area to see the critters still being carved and finally upstairs to visit the painting area. I loved every minute of it! The gift shop is lovely, well laid out with quite a few unique carousel themed items including those specially made for the carousel itself. And the carousel - it is absolute art! So many different critters to ride, a working catch the ring machine, and an old school band machine for the music. If you love carousels this is a must do! read more

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We love this place! Absolutely stunning carousel; the craftsmanship that has gone into the animals is beautiful. My kids loved touring the carver's workshop and seeing where they make the pieces that eventually join the carousel. The volunteers are all older, but generally very helpful and friendly. read more

Albany Historic Carousel & Museum - Museums Near Me - Albany, Oregon

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What an amazing place to visit! There is a gift shop, ride your favorite animal, and last but not least, you can visit where the animals are carved on the lower floor. Amazing! read more

For the record, I didn't even ride the carousel. It was too enthralled by the historic tour. You will be able to see the intense craftsmanship that has gone into each piece (and still does). What is so great is that this place is almost entirely run and maintained by volunteers who have a true passion for the art of the carousel. It is truly a lost art but these dedicated people are keeping it alive. Yes, you can see everything in a couple of hours but its worth it. It is a true gem of downtown Albany, Oregon! read more

Albany Historic Carousel & Museum - Museums Near Me - Albany, Oregon

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The Carousel is SO beautiful! It's in a beautiful building that was built just for it and the workshop underneath the building is impressive. The animals are beautiful works of craftsmanship and the most impressive part of the entire building is that it is solely run by volunteers from the people running the gift shop and the actual carousel to the artists that draw, carve and paint every animal that is on this magnificent Carousel. I loved the tour, our guide was very knowledgeable about the artisans and each of the pieces. The little museum that they have is well done and it makes a fun place to host parties of any kind for a decent crowd. I truly feel that this one building adds so much character and charm to the small downtown of Albany and the community. read more

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SO MUCH FUN!! My husband and I went for the first time. We had so much fun riding on the carousel and walking around the area. I highly recommend going and checking it out. Only $2 a ride you can't get that kind of fun and nostalgic anywhere like this. read more

A must visit when in the albany area Be sure to ask for a tour of the basement which is the most exciting part where they both make new animals and display animals as old as 1890! read more

The shitty ass ring game is rigged for the little kids and gives no chance for adults and the workers are very rude and yell at you if you break a rule read more

What a gem in Albany. I have watched the progress over the years and the final product is so beautiful. On a recent trip to Albany had the joy of riding the carousel several times. The community spirit that brought this project to fruition is an example of what can be done when people gather together around a common goal. Can't wait to visit again and ride a new animal. read more

Awful experience with the two white hair ladies running the carousel. Despite how beautiful and fun the place is, my two year old and I were met with unfriendly service. We got on the line right before the ride started and the lady rushed us to get on and repeatedly pushed us to pick an animal quickly and mentioned that the other people have been waiting for a while. I'm not sure how that is our problem and seemed unnecessarily aggressive. When you have a toddler, they are very picky and it kind of sucked to have someone hounding you. Then, we decided to go for another ride where my son picked the fish, which scared him once it started going up. He was scrambling to get down and refused to get back on. I figured it would be safer to hold on to a pole and wait for the ride to end but got yelled at by the worker there about how I can't be doing that and that he must get back on the fish. When the ride circled around, she scolded at me again! And when we got off, I tried to explain to her that he was falling off and she scolded me again as if his safety was unimportant! Hate to throw the race card out but we were the only Asians there and everyone else that was there was white and was met with a big smile. I hope they retrain the two ladies. read more

Amazing place and and people! The woodwork and craftsmanship on each carousel animal is AMAZING and the tour to view how each piece is made is NOT TO BE MISSED to really appreciate the quality of this beautiful place. It is magical for young and old. Thank you to all the volunteers who make this place special... to Christine E. who posted a review recently, I would encourage you to take the tour and you will see that these are REAL WOODEN carousel animals that have taken years of amazing craftsmanship to create! read more

Rarely do I ever give five stars. This place is well run by volunteers. They observe COVID protocols. Rides are reasonable at $2 each. If you are able to grab brass ring you get another free ride. They have tours but they were not available when we went. Wonderful restored carousel. Bathrooms are super clean. Parking adequate. read more

A must-see if you are in Albany. What an amazing place! Volunteers are carving a carousel that will eventually be assembled in Albany. So far they've been at it for 8 years and expect it to take 8 more. You can tour the workshop to see the animals come to life. There are several volunteers on hand to guide you through the workshop and explain the Brass Ring Project. A good mix of "please don't touch" and "hop right on" for the kids in tow. They don't charge admission, but welcome donations. read more

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The facility is up and running now, and I was impressed with the quality of the restoration, and the architecture and finish carpentry of the building complex. I told a staff member that never before had I seen a community pull together to such a degree. The round, tall structure at the east end of the complex holds the carousel. I think the average visitor may be so enthralled in this hall as to not notice---I didn't at first---that the displays continue to the west in a more conventional structure. In that section are located a gift shop, vintage sculptures apparently from the collection of the Dentzel family, and finally a studio where volunteers are carving, painting, etc. Unless you are preoccupied with toddlers there for the ride---which is a huge proportion of visitation---I definitely recommend that you take the entire museum in. This museum, in my opinion, is superior to the carousel display in Salem. The carvings are more audacious, inventive and skilful, and the carousel seemed larger and to rotate more slowly. And the music is better. You must be careful about parking nearby, as many lots are reserved for other entities. Some dedicated parking requires the driver to back in, which I thought puzzling. Be prepared to walk a bit. read more

Overall it was a good experience. The Carousel was fun and the museum tour was great! What disappointed me was the food. My Mac-n-cheese was cold and undercooked and my sisters hotdog was wet and bare. Also, the hotdog bun was a little stale. We both ordered one of the meals they offer and didn't get our treats. read more

a surprise visit for us. we road the carousel and they had a party going on. nicely run place with volunteers. each ride is $2 but if you area able to grab the brass ring, you get a free ride (a neat way to entice older kids if you ask me). bathrooms were clean. there was a gift shift. easy parking. read more

This was an amazing experience. The carousel was beautiful and creative with so many different species represented. It is quite obviously a labor of love, given the many hours and years of volunteer work that has helped to create it. The ladies running the carousel were a hoot, making the ride fun-filled and full of laughter. The tour was very informative. We truly were impressed. If you are ever in Albany stop in and see this masterpiece, and while you're at it, take a ride, no matter your age. read more

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The Albany Carousel Museum is a living artists' workshop. One has to appreciate the intricacy and the hard work that goes into it. It's like an open studios tour or going to Santa Fe's (New Mexico) Canyon Road where one can see artists painting, sculpting, carving. The crew at the Carousel Museum have been working for the past 8 years- and they still have 8 years to work. There are realistic animals like a chinook salmon, a bison, various horses- as well as more mythological ones such as the Chinese dragon and the hippocampus (half horse, half fish) that is also the Carousel's mascot- http://albanycarousel.com/WP/animals/the-guardian/ They have an extensive gift shop with historical memorabilia. They also have their own coffee blend with the hippocampus logo. It's a fun spot for the kids- they have some animals they can sit on and ride! The Albany Carousel Museum is a little off the beaten path, parking is spotty and it's behind the post office. It's great to see artists at work! read more