Herschell Carrousel Museum, Niagara Falls: Ride a 1916 Carousel

A working carousel factory frozen in time, where you ride the same machines that delighted carnival crowds a century ago.

Admission to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, includes entry to the original Allan Herschell Company factory complex and two ride tokens. Walk through the carving floor, paint shop, assembly roundhouse and loading dock; ride a hand-carved 1916 carousel while Wurlitzer organs play; and explore a Children's Gallery with hands-on activities. In summer, test four vintage kiddie rides outdoors. Tours are self-guided by brochure or cell phone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum

• Explore carving floor and paint shop
• Visit assembly roundhouse and loading dock
• Ride 1916 hand-carved carousel
• Listen to band organ music
• Watch wood carving demonstration
• View music roll-making shop
• Ride four kiddie rides (summer only)
• Shop in gift shop

The experience

The Herschell companies in North Tonawanda built over 3,000 hand-carved wooden carousels, and 71 of the 148 antique carousels still operating in the United States and Canada came from this factory. Your admission gets you into the original building where those carousels were made: a 7-structure complex that shows you the carving floor, paint shop, assembly roundhouse and loading dock. You'll see how the horses were carved and painted, watch a wood carving demonstration, and listen to the music roll-making shop explain how the Wurlitzer organs worked. The gift shop stocks carousel-related items if you want to take something home.

Two ride tokens come with admission, so you can experience the 1916 hand-carved carousel with its original Wurlitzer organ music. The Children's Gallery offers hands-on learning activities for younger visitors. In summer months, an outdoor Kiddieland lets children test-ride four vintage amusement rides from the 1940s and 1960s: small metal rides the company made when it shifted from portable carousels to fixed attractions for traveling shows. Additional ride tokens cost $1 each if you want more spins. Tours are self-guided using a brochure or your cell phone. If your group is 10 or more, you can arrange a guided tour with advance notice.

Plan for one to two hours to move through the exhibits and take your rides. The carousel has a 200-pound weight restriction, and the kiddie rides have varying height restrictions. The museum is wheelchair accessible and welcomes children from age 2 (who must be accompanied by an adult). Audio guides are available in English.

What’s included

• Admission to the 7-structure factory complex.
• two ride tokens for the carousel or kiddie rides.
• access to the carving floor, paint shop, assembly roundhouse and loading dock exhibits.
• the Children's Gallery with hands-on activities.
• outdoor Kiddieland rides in summer.
• wood carving demonstrations.
• Wurlitzer organ music during carousel rides.
• self-guided tour by brochure or cell phone.
• audio guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayLast departure this season: 30 Dec

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (2 to 16 years)

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum

Is this one for you?Families with young children benefit from the hands-on gallery and kiddie rides, while visitors with limited time appreciate the self-guided format that lets you move at your own pace through the factory exhibits and carousel ride in one to two hours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 16 years).

What exactly is the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum?

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum occupies the original Allan Herschell Company factory building in North Tonawanda, about 20 minutes from Niagara Falls. The 7-structure complex includes the carving floor, paint shop, assembly roundhouse and loading dock where hand-carved wooden carousels were manufactured starting in the early 1900s. You walk through these working spaces and see how the horses and carousel frames were built.

Can I actually ride the carousel, or is it just on display?

You can ride the 1916 hand-carved carousel. It operates with its original Wurlitzer organ music, and two ride tokens are included with admission so you can experience it. Additional tokens cost $1 each.

What are the kiddie rides in the outdoor Kiddieland?

The outdoor Kiddieland features four vintage amusement rides from the 1940s and 1960s that the Herschell company made when it began producing small metal rides for traveling shows. These rides operate during summer months only, and children can test-ride them with their own ride tokens.

How long should I plan to spend at the museum?

Plan for one to two hours to move through the exhibits, watch demonstrations, and take your carousel rides. You can go at your own pace using a self-guided brochure or cell phone tour.