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    Historic Carousel & Museum

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Historic Carousel & Museum Photos

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    Gorgeous zebra
    Linda D.

    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

    Almost completed masterpiece, love this details on the bear
    Joyce T.

    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.

    Grizzly Berry in the Painting Studio
    Chuck M.

    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!

    Painting studio
    Daniel Q.

    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.

    Selena N.

    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!

    Sue B.

    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.

    The museum is fascinating and Faye was a brilliant tour guide!
    Cindy P.

    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!

    Carousel
    Holly F.

    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.

    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

    Carving room
    Amanda R.

    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!

    Cindy I.

    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.

    Jordin B.

    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!

    Poodle being carved
    Harmony G.

    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!!!???

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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.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Historic Carousel & Museum

    Review Highlights - Historic Carousel & Museum

    The gift shop (also volunteer-run) has some really nice items, from carousel-specific to more generic gift items.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Salem's Riverfront Carousel - Carousel

    Salem's Riverfront Carousel

    4.6(36 reviews)
    21.3 mi

    This was my favorite part of Riverfront Park, thanks to my kiddo. She rode on her first carousel a…read moreweek before visiting here and she loved it so when my best friend mentioned that Salem had a carousel (why??) we decided to come check it out. The carousel is indoors so that's a nice perk when it's cold or rainy. It's a large carousel with different animals as well as some benches, and they're adding others soon--including a U of O themed duck. The rides are pretty inexpensive at $2 each; you'll buy tokens at the gift shop. (They only take cards with a minimum $5 purchase.) Alternatively, you can pay $15 for unlimited rides for the day. The gift shop has lots of stuff... except t-shirts, which they were out of the day we came in and that was a bummer since I'd wanted to get one for the little one. There are indoor toilets here (yay) and they have some vendors--at least, there as a cotton candy vendor here when we visited. They also rent the space out and there was a nice private room off to the side of the carousel. There's lots of parking here since it's part of the overall Riverfront Park.

    The carousel is awesome. The gift shop is cute, although I was there with my 3-year-old today…read morereading some of the children's books and the girl working there said, "Are you going to buy something? Because this isn't a library." Mind you, we were the only people in the store. Maybe put up a sign or something if you don't want people reading the kids' books there? (This is the only negative experience we've had in the store - other times, my daughter has happily wandered around checking out the toys and books for quite some time and the folks working there have been nothing but kind and welcoming.)

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    Salem's Riverfront Carousel
    Salem's Riverfront Carousel
    Salem's Riverfront Carousel

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    Riverfront Park

    Riverfront Park

    4.2(23 reviews)
    21.2 mi

    This is a really great park sitting along the Willamette River. The park has a nice large…read moreplayground; it would only be better if there was a fence but there are steps so that slows a kiddo down. The Riverfront Park includes the playground and just grassy area (which is nice for all the folks we saw picnicking), and the carousel, plus food trucks congregate in the amphitheater area sometimes. The day we were there there were three of them and plenty of space for a couple more. Nice option to go grab a snack. There were a few picnic tables and we were able to claim one of them. The bathrooms were pretty gross. There was no soap or anything in them and one was in yucky shape. That led us to the port-a-potty, which was pretty gross but a little less gross than the permanent toilets. There's a large parking lot here since they must have lots of various activities taking place here. I'm glad we visited here (at a friend's recommendation) and got to enjoy this (mostly) well-kept park.

    My 4 year old and I came down to Salem to tsp the Enchanted Forest. So the day before we explored…read moreSalem. This park was worth the afternoon stop. A carousel ($2 person-go to gift shop to buy the coins) Large grassy areas to run or let the dog roll around (on leash). Really large area of outdoor play area with climbing, swings and slides. Of course the iconic walking bridge. Recommend: pick up some bbq from The Back Porch on Edgewater (5 min drive) and picnic. See review of restaurant

    Photos
    Riverfront Park
    Riverfront Park - The view while walking along the path

    The view while walking along the path

    Riverfront Park

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    Lair Hill Park

    Lair Hill Park

    4.2(6 reviews)
    63.4 miSouth Portland, Southwest Portland

    Lair Hill Park is hidden underneath tall trees and can be found across the street and south from…read morethe YMCA on Barbur. Lots of grass to play or nap on and a sweet playground for the kids, including a metal merry-go-round, swings, slides, monkey bars. You'll probably see dogs running around off leash but their owners are tops when it comes to cleaning up after them and there is also a tennis court.

    Imagine an idealized version of a neighborhood and you pretty much have Lair Hill Park. Most of the…read morepark is shaded beneath big-leaved maple and chestnut trees that light up in yellow and orange and red, making fall a wonderful time to enjoy the park. It's not big; a small neighborhood square block, but it has everything a park needs. It has a nice playground, including one of those metal carousel things that parks don't have anymore because they are too dangerous. There are nice swings, and benches to enjoy the scenery. On one of the grassy knolls sits a chunky metal sculpture weirdly reminiscent of Stonehenge. There is a dilapidated backstop so you can play Butt's Up, the only game I've ever played on a backstop (an activity that took place solely in 5th grade and forgotten until now.) There's a decent looking tennis court, and the park is just across the street from Duniway track and some good running trails. On the outskirts of the track are some historic buildings to remind you of what the neighborhood once was. A beautiful brick building was, if memory serves, once a nurses' dormitory for OHSU, or something like that. And the interesting brown-trimmed building in the corner was one of the first libraries in the area (it is now something else, and a little run down.) A great place to sit, play, swing, and enjoy the world.

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    Lair Hill Park
    Lair Hill Park
    Lair Hill Park

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    Tandy Turn Park

    Tandy Turn Park

    5.0(1 review)
    38.9 mi

    I was holding this one back this one for a milestone review, but forgot to make it #700 and 800…read morewill be a ways off yet. This is a place I hold dear to my heart. If Yelp had been around to check in when I was growing up, I'd probably be the Duchess for life here. Duchess emeritus. Whatever. Tandy Turn Park is embedded in so many of my childhood memories that it will always evoke a smile, a fond memory, and a little bit of wishfulness to go back and hold fast to those memories. The park is located at the end of Tandy Turn, which dead ends on this side. It's a good sized park with plenty of grass for playing, parties, picnics, and so on. The playground equipment includes a merry-go-round, slide, swings, and a few other pieces of equipment. There's a picnic table or two as well, but not a lot of benches outside those. I'm not sure if the ground is barn mulch (old school from when I was a kid) or one of those manufactured safety surfaces that are often in parks now. This park is one in Eugene that feels more like a secret, and is certainly more secluded, because you can't just drive by it; both streets that lead to it are dead ends. You have to know it's there, which is probably why it's usually very quiet and is almost exclusively people from the neighborhood. My sister and I often played or had our birthday parties here (birthday parties were mostly her domain; my birth month has always been iffy when it comes to good weather in Oregon) when our mom, sister, and I lived with my grandparents for a few years (they lived in a home one house down from the park for about 40). My mom then lived in the home for another 15 years after they passed away, before she sold the home in 2017. What actually makes me the saddest about having sold the home is that to go to this park we would have to drive there and park, and there's not a parking lot so folks would be parked in front of people's homes. However, so many areas are connected easily to this park--Tandy Turn, Sharon Way, and that web of streets; and there's a path from Tandy Turn to Lariat Drive and that collection of streets. Tandy Turn Park represents a bit of my childhood that I won't be able to capture again in the same way, with my own children should I have them or with friends and family, and along with that memories of my grandma or grandpa walking down to tell us to come home, or my grandparents neighbors keeping watch over us since there's not (or wasn't at the time) a fence separating them from the park, just some landscaping. I am sad to lose that deep, half-century family connection; my mom and uncle were young enough when my grandparents moved to Oregon that they may have played and/or hung out here, too, or maybe were there when the park was created (my mom has shared that this area of Eugene was not nearly as developed in the 1960's, and much of it was still farmland). Perhaps my strongest memory related to the park is of my older step-cousin (who I'd always thought was so cool) taking us down here when it was raining and sliding down the twisty slide in the rain; I wonder if she remembers that. It reminds me of warm afternoons playing with my sister; occasionally Danielle, Jessica, Annie, and sometimes Trevor, Justin, Richard, and Christina and Charity; of our house being the place we'd run for water or a bathroom break since we were by far the closest; of sliding down the incredibly hot metal twisty slide in the summer because it we loved it too much not to; of hiding in the evergreens that line the edge of the park when we're playing hide and seek; of taking turns being the one who had to push the merry-go-round as fast as it would go whilst the others hung on for dear life (or sometimes tried to show off and stand up with no hands as it swung as fast as we could make it go); or of pumping and pumping to swing as high as we could and then taking a leap! Even memories of my young, over-imaginative self being afraid at night of what might happen in the park or hearing ghosts from there are now unexpectedly comforting. Wrapping up what will probably be my most sentimental Yelp review ever, I better not forget to say that there are no facilities at this park: If you visit, best do so with an empty bladder. And although it is not a dog park, you will see dogs here and walking through the park with their owners since the park connects Sharon/Woodside/Buff to Tandy Turn and even Lariat by way of the park. Enjoy your time here.

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    Tandy Turn Park
    Tandy Turn Park
    Tandy Turn Park

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    Punch Bowl Social - Rosemary Fries

    Punch Bowl Social

    3.5(788 reviews)
    64.5 miDowntown, Southwest Portland
    $$

    The workers didn't seem like they knew what was going on and weren't familiar with the promotions…read moregoing on. They did have a all you can bowl package which was nice. I would like to go back again in the future to see if it would be a better experience. It has the potential to be a fun place for a date night. I'll check it out the next time I'm in the area with some friends.

    We came here for a day trip to Oregon. The service was great! We had two servers because of a shift…read morechange but both were very kind! We ordered the shrimp tacos, the BLT sandwich, and the charcuterie board. I ate the whole charcuterie board myself which was certainly a choice by me. But I wish there was some guidance about what paired with what. I've never really had a charcuterie board before but I was combining everything together and it seemed like nothing went well together. Overall not that good but I liked the almonds. The strawberry jam is very sweet. The sandwich had a lot of bacon and my friend told me she liked it. The shrimp tacos were not as good as we were hoping. The surroundings were so silly. Loved the ambiance and my friend loved the sports games that were playing. There were a lot of different ones so there was surely one that you would be interested in. I was facing away from the bar so I couldn't see the games, but I'm not really a sports fan anyway. Overall 5/5 service, 5/5 ambiance, 3/5 food. Would come back to try a burger because it looked really good!

    Photos
    Punch Bowl Social - 360 bar

    360 bar

    Punch Bowl Social - Hummus & Edamame

    Hummus & Edamame

    Punch Bowl Social - Old Fashioned

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    Old Fashioned

    Hidden Creek Park West

    Hidden Creek Park West

    4.6(16 reviews)
    61.8 mi

    We drove an hour to visit Hidden Creek West Park in Hillsboro, and it was absolutely worth the…read moretrip! This park is a total gem--thoughtfully designed, beautifully shaded, and perfect for families. There are plenty of swings and a great variety of play equipment to keep kids engaged for hours. One of the things I appreciated most was the visibility--there's seating thoughtfully placed all around the park, so no matter where your child is playing, you can easily keep an eye on them. There's even a grassy area under the trees where you can lay out a blanket and relax. Even on a hot day, the metal slides stayed cool thanks to the shade, which is a rare and welcome surprise! The kids there were all friendly, and the parents seemed attentive and involved, creating a really positive, safe vibe. My kids had a blast and would've stayed much longer if I hadn't forgotten snacks--lesson learned! We'll definitely be back, this time with a picnic and more time to explore.

    First of all the park is huge and the activities available for the kids are wonderful. Multiple…read moreswings, rotating ball, and great big climbing structure with slides and rock climbing wall. There is a fountain for the summer time and outdoor picnicking and grilling. Nice little trail to walk around. Across the street is 3 futbol piches and more park. The community center features indoor courts for basketball, badminton, track, and a gym. Staff is sorry nice and welcoming and the place is clean and inviting.

    Photos
    Hidden Creek Park West - Activity structure

    Activity structure

    Hidden Creek Park West
    Hidden Creek Park West

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    Historic Carousel & Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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