Whether you’re a fan of music, American history, childhood memories, or you simply love spinning around in a circle whilst on a hand painted wooden horse, you must visit the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, NY.
The Allan Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is located 30 minutes (not including any border crossing delays) from Niagara Falls, Ontario and an even easier 20 minutes from both the American side of Niagara Falls and Buffalo, NY. We stopped at the museum on the way home from the falls during our Spring Break road trip, arriving 45-minutes before closing time. Fortunately, they stayed open a little longer for us, but we could’ve spent hours more inside the factory where most of the world’s portable, hand carved carnival carrousels were produced in the early part of the 20th century. The best part of the museum for me were the two working Wurlitzer band organs and the conversation I had with the gentleman charged with the upkeep and repair of the organs. He took me behind the velvet curtain, so to speak, and showed me all the masters, the hundreds of spools of music, and the inside of the machines. He also played some tunes just for us on our way out. It’s was one of the highlights of the entire vacation.
When you visit Niagara Falls this summer, skip one of the cheesy tourist traps on the Canadian side and make a side trip to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum instead. Your kids can ride the museum’s two carrousels and your entire family can experience a real slice of Americana.
