EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CAROUSEL

Reserve a private tour just for your group. For groups of 5 - 105, the Museum welcomes you to join us for an in depth look at the beauty and history of Carousel. Private tours are a great outing for Adult and Student groups alike. A visit to the Carousel Museum offers an opportunity to learn about Art, History, and fabrication of this little known form of American sculpture.

 

Everyone smiles while we learn about the ride we all love so much!

 

On your visit you will discover our collection of over 200 antique wooden horses, and objects, see our restoration department, where we are activity preserving these American treasures, and take a ride on our indoor carousel.

 

Contact our Tour Coordinator to customize your visit with add-ons. Stay for lunch, "Make and take" Art Activity in our Art Studio, visits to other Bristol Museums.

 

Reservations required for private tours 

860-585-5411 x 102 or email us

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Admission Rates:
Adults $15.00
Seniors and Students with ID $10.00
Children $5.00 (age 2-14)

Children under 2 are FREE

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SPECIAL TOURS

 

QUEST

Great for groups of children or adults. QUEST Tours take a deeper look at one or two objects in the collection. The MUSE QUESTs (Questions for Understanding, Exploring, Seeing, and Thinking) which foster reflection on art through various entry points. By reviewing and/or "trying out" these ideas in schools and museums, MUSE participants helped to refine and develop the draft educational approaches and learning tools. Learn more: http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/project-muse

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MUSE's developing learning tools and educational approaches feature three foci:

1) Inquiry: posing open-ended questions without right or wrong answers

2) Access: appealing to a wide range of learners

3) Reflection: providing opportunities for thinking about one's own thinking. 

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Introduction to Carousels:

An overview of the evolution of the carousel from 17th century Europe to the modern day.

Learn about how carousel animals are constructed as well as the different styles of

carving, and how this art has evolved over time.

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Carousel Carvers: An American Immigrant Success Story:

Did you know that most Golden Age carousel artists immigrated from abroad?  Get an in-depth look at the lives of some of the most well-known immigrant carvers and factory owners and the obstacles they overcame in order to achieve the American Dream. Through examples of their work we hope to instill an appreciation not only of their contributions to the amusement industry but to the fabric of American life.

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Jewish Carousel Carvers: From Torah Scrolls to Coney Island:

This tour focuses on the Coney Island style of carving and the Jewish immigrants who were the masterminds behind it. Before they became involved in the amusement industry, carvers Marcus Illions, Solomon Stein, Harry Goldstein and Charles Carmel made decalogues and Torah Arks adorned with fierce lions and wild eagles for European synagogues. The same flamboyance that made congregations take notice translated well into carousel art. Through examples at our museum, witness how simple but charming wooden horses transformed into incredibly lifelike wild steeds after these gentlemen took up residence at Coney Island at the turn of the 20th century.

 

Children’s Tour: Discovering Animals, Lines, Shapes and Colors:

An interactive tour designed especially for young learners. Through techniques developed by Harvard’s Project Zero your children or students will appreciate the formal and sensory qualities of some of our carousel animals by studying their lines, shapes and colors.

The Museum of Fire History:

Discover a fascinating array of fire-fighting and fire house signaling equipment and memorabilia dating from the late 18th to the mid 20th century. Let our guide teach your group how these tools and techniques saved lives every day! The Museum of Fire History is made possible by the generous donation by Carlyle "Hap" Barnes in 2002 and is supported by the Barnes Foundation.

 

Behind the Scenes of the Restoration Department:

Our mission is to preserve antique wooden carousels of which only about 200 remain. Our goal is to keep them running for future generations. Get an in-depth look with one of our carousel artists at this unique, time-tested restoration process and learn how we use 19th century techniques to protect these historic treasures. (Please note: this tour will require additional time and an additional fee applies).

 

TOUR ADD-ONs

• "Make and take Activity" +$5.00 per person

• "Bistro Box" + $12 per person

• "Premium Bistro Box" + $18 per person

• "Quick Coffee and Tea" +$5 per person

 

For student tours:

1 FREE Chaperone required for every 10 students. 

 

Carousel Museum Tours are great ideas for:

• Student School Field Trips

• Homeschool Co-ops

• Book Clubs

• Red Hat Groups

• Senior Living facilities

• Girl & Boy Scouts Troops

• Church and Temple groups

• Reunions

• Family Gatherings