A Carousel Ride Through History

An amazing idea.  Teach New York State history by building a carousel.  After all, what does a child love more than riding a carousel?  Why not make it an educational experience?  "Stealth learning", some call it.  To me, life is learning - why should we separate learning into something that happens only in school?

A couple of teachers, some 32 years ago, had an idea - why not teach history through a carousel ride?

At the Farmer's Museum near Cooperstown, NY, the dream took shape over the next 30 some years.  As time passed, the dream was carved in wood into a carousel.  In fact, the work is not yet finished.  This carousel, now called the Empire State Carousel, has spaces remaining where any city can contribute something to this work 32 years in progress.

Let Benny the Brook Trout and other carvings take you through history.

This is their dream in action - literally.

On the outside of the carousel, various quilts hang.  And, along the carousel interior, hand carved wood panels tell of history, or demonstrate beautiful artwork.

Each panel demonstrates an asset of New York State history or culture.

How about some pirates? What child doesn't love tails of pirates?

How about illustrating a Broadway play?

Various people,, some amateurs, some professionals, carved the carousel animals.  This one, Percy the Pig, cost a million pennies, which he carries in a money bag. (No, not really.)

Features of the animals sneak in "learning", such as this map of Long Island on a carousel horse.

This bear from the city of Waterloo, has the Finger Lakes on one side (photo above), an American flag in its mouth and Civil War gear on the other side.

The day we visited the Farmer's Museum, young children were squealing in delight as they rode the carousel, blissfully unaware that they were being educated.

I love carousels.  I live in what is considered the carousel capital of the United States, with six operational (and forever free) carousels donated by a local philanthropist to the children of the Triple Cities of Upstate New York. But we have nothing like this.  I was amazed.

I hope you were, too.