Take a Spin at the Merry-go-Round Museum in Sandusky

If you find yourself traveling along the southern shore of Lake Erie, you may pass right by a little town named Sandusky, Ohio. This beautiful town has several historical gems nearby, but one, in particular, caught my attention: The Merry-Go-Round Museum.

I’ll admit my inner child jumped at the chance to visit a place wholly dedicated to one of my favorite childhood rides. Even as an adult, I love letting loose and hopping onto a carousel, picking out my favorite animal (on the second deck if possible), and losing myself in the music and motion of the ride. Obviously, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and I am so glad I didn’t!

Stationed within the old Sandusky Post office, this delightful non-profit museum is packed full of vintage carousel animals, fun facts, and a working merry-go-round for guests to ride. I was a little surprised when we walked in because the museum is contained within one large room and the entryway. But we were there for more than an hour before we finished looking at and doing everything inside. I honestly don’t remember the last time I had so much fun for only $6, and I was smiling from start to finish.

*Update May 2024: Since our visit, admission to the museum has increased to $8.

History of the Merry-Go-Round

Have you ever wondered where the merry-go-round originated? It turns out that this children’s ride has a very fascinating background that had absolutely nothing to do with children. In fact, it originated in France as a training device for knights and quickly became a court sensation. Eventually, the carousel evolved to include beautifully carved animals and motorized spinning.

Plaques around the museum tell the story of the carousel, including those of some of the more famous carvers. It was so interesting to see what each carver focused on in his work. Some emphasized color and gaudy jewels; others emphasized realistic designs. By the end of the tour, we were able to make pretty good guesses at which carver designed specific animals based on what we learned about their styles.

carved wooden tigers on display at the Merry-go-round museum

The Unique Merry-Go-Round Animals

The museum walls are lined with rows of gorgeous carousel animals of just about every species imaginable: horses, reindeer, lions, tigers, wolves, elephants, sea serpents, camels—the list goes on and on! Each animal is unique and beautiful, and it was fun to see how each one differed based on the carver’s style.

The animals range in age from over one hundred to just a few years old. In many cases, I thought the older animals were the most fascinating. I was amazed at how well done the carving was for not having any electric tools and how beautiful they all still were. Obviously, many of the animals have undergone restoration, but the detail was preserved from the original as well.

The museum also has an impressive display of animals from the famous Dentzel Carousel Company, one of the first and most realistic carvers of carousel animals.

Another featured carving at the museum is Daniel Muller’s King Armored Horse, one of the most famous carousel figures of all time.

The Carousel

The $6 museum admission includes one free ride on the museum’s restored Herschell carousel. This gorgeous ride came to the museum in 1991 and is filled with a wide variety of animals. Because the carousel came without any original animals, it’s been filled with figures on loan from private collections, a few of the museum’s own pieces, and some created specifically for the merry-go-round by current carvers.

The carousel is fully functional, with an old-fashioned motor and carnival-like music playing from the band organ. The ride lasts for 2-3 minutes, and it’s so much fun to watch the animals on the collection spin by like another ring of the carousel.

More Fun at the Merry-Go-Round Museum

In addition to the carvings, history, and carousel, the museum has several fun stations for further amusement.

The museum has a few crayon rubbing stations positioned around it. Paper and crayons are provided for children (or adults) to rub pictures of different carousel animals and take them home.

On the back wall of the museum is a large vintage map of an amusement park. This map was created as a proposal for a new theme park called Toy Town based on children’s stories. Unfortunately, it never happened due to the economic depression. A list to the side of the map turns it into a giant game of “I Spy.” I thought this was particularly clever and interesting. And I wish that Toy Town actually was a thing because it looks really cool!

In the back right corner of the museum, you’ll find the carver’s workshop. Here, volunteer carvers work to restore vintage animals and work on new projects. They’re happy to answer questions and impart their carving knowledge to you as well. When we went, the carver was working on a tiny Rudolph, and he showed us how he was adding the tail.

A miniature carousel to the right of the workshop displays many tiny carvings from the volunteers. Switch it on to watch it spin and observe the intricate details of the little animals.

A small gift shop offers a variety of new and donated carousel-themed items, from puzzles and books to decorative tins and vintage carousel animals. While we were there, the museum also had a number of books and materials on sale for just $1, and free posters, too!

Additionally, guests can enter a raffle every year to win a hand-carved carousel horse. You can see the design for the current horse online and download an entry form if you’re interested. All the money earned goes to keeping this magical place alive!

Closing Thoughts on Sandusky’s Merry-Go-Round Museum

I cannot say enough how much we enjoyed this adorable museum. We discovered such an incredible snippet of history that we’d never even considered, and we were thoroughly amazed by the gorgeous carvings and the carousel!

If you’re passing near Sandusky, stop! Don’t miss out on this beautiful museum and the incredible story it tells.

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