The Bushnell Park Carousel

The Bushnell Park Carousel The Bushnell Park Carousel is an antique wooden carousel created by Stein and Goldstein in 1914.
(241)

It’s a sweet surprise to find a vintage 1914 carousel standing in Bushnell Park. There, by the shadow of skyscrapers and a giant Turkey Oak, a 24-sided pavilion houses 48 hand-carved wooden horses and two lovers’ chariots that swirl around a booming Wurlitzer band organ. Having Turned 100 years old in 2014, this Carousel maintains the past, while the future buds all around it. For just $2.00, you

get a 3 1/2 minute ride that can blur your worries, trick you into feeling young and enlarge the eyes of even the widest-eyed youngster. The Knox Foundation brought the carousel to Hartford from Canton, Ohio, in 1974. Jack Dollard, director of the Foundation at the time, and now an architect in the city, thought the horses would symbolize Hartford’s restoration.Currently, this carousel is only one of three left in the world by Stein and Goldstein. They, like many carousel craftsmen, started in Russia as carvers of women’s combs. They came to the United States in the late 1800s to carve carousel horses for Coney Island, which, at the height of the craze, had some two-dozen carousels operating. Stein and Goldstein horses are distinguished by their flamboyance, their big teeth, bulging eyes, by the huge and colorful cabbage roses which festoon their bodies and their real horse hair tails. Eventually, they built a reputation as “artistic carousel manufacturers” and they built carousels when there were at least 3,000 in the United States, when riders on the outside row dipped their index fingers for brass rings and a ride was considered a dare because 15 mph was faster than anything. The invention of the roller coaster gave carousels a more romantic reputation–and fewer riders. Every year thousands of riders take the dare and go for the thrill of riding on Hartford’s magnificent and historic Stein and Goldstein carousel. The Carousel is owned by the City of Hartford and since August 2021 has been managed by the Bushnell Park Conservancy.

06/02/2026

June Hours: Thursdays: 12:00–6:00 PM
Fridays: 1:00–8:00 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00–5:00 PM

05/05/2026

May Hours:
Fridays: 1:00–8:00 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00–5:00 PM

04/16/2026
04/13/2026

April & May Carousel Hours:
Fridays: 1:00–8:00 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00–5:00 PM
PLUS 12:00–5:00 PM on all Hartford Public School holidays, including Spring Break this week.
Membership & rental info at https://bushnellpark.org/attractions/the-carousel

Welcome Our New Operations Manager: Bonnie Plourde!The Bushnell Park Conservancy is excited to welcome Bonnie Plourde as...
03/24/2026

Welcome Our New Operations Manager: Bonnie Plourde!

The Bushnell Park Conservancy is excited to welcome Bonnie Plourde as our new Operations Manager. Bonnie brings more than a decade of experience in museum operations, educational programming, volunteer coordination, and nonprofit administration across Connecticut’s cultural and historic institutions.

In this role, Bonnie will oversee carousel operations, staff supervision, financial processes, onboarding and training, rental and contract management, and board and committee engagement. She will also support community partnerships, programming, and the ongoing stewardship of the historic Bushnell Park Carousel. Board President Lisa Karam Nickoletti shared that Bonnie’s strong operational background and experience in historic institutions make her “an ideal fit for this role.”

The Bushnell Park Carousel will be closed until March 31 while our team gives this beloved landmark its yearly tune‑up.T...
03/07/2026

The Bushnell Park Carousel will be closed until March 31 while our team gives this beloved landmark its yearly tune‑up.

This year’s maintenance highlights:

🎠 Fresh rotations for the high-hat top.
🎠 A full crankshaft replacement to keep the ride smooth.
🎠 Comprehensive cleaning of mechanical components.
🎠 A detailed assessment and repair plan for the iconic band organ.

We can’t wait to share photos and videos of the work in progress so you can see how we keep the carousel shining for generations to come.

❄️ Due to the pending blizzard/bomb cyclone/nor'easter, and the City's parking ban, which begins at 12 noon, the Carouse...
02/22/2026

❄️ Due to the pending blizzard/bomb cyclone/nor'easter, and the City's parking ban, which begins at 12 noon, the Carousel will not be open today. See you on Friday, 1:00 to 8:00 pm!

❄ The Carousel will be closing at 5:00 p.m. today due to the weather. See you tomorrow at 12:00 p.m., stay safe out ther...
02/20/2026

❄ The Carousel will be closing at 5:00 p.m. today due to the weather. See you tomorrow at 12:00 p.m., stay safe out there, and don't forget to tag us in your winter park photos!

Come and work with us!
01/30/2026

Come and work with us!

The Bushnell Park Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks a dynamic person to serve as its new Operations Manager.

The Operations Manager will provide higher-level oversight and administrative leadership for The Bushnell Park Carousel and The Bushnell Park Conservancy. This role supervises the Assistant Manager, handles daily, hands-on carousel tasks, focuses on payroll, onboarding and training, program development, financial and billing oversight, customer-facing contract and rental management, and BPC board and committee engagement. 30 hours per week. Regular evening and weekend availability required. Click below to download more information and instructions on how to apply.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XWI-PS8_NJCOJ_t_UN7OMoDp3w_hSNhY/view?usp=drive_link

🎠 We’re excited to announce that the carousel will be open on additional days this spring! In addition to our regular Fr...
01/13/2026

🎠 We’re excited to announce that the carousel will be open on additional days this spring! In addition to our regular Friday - Sunday hours, the carousel will be open from 12 - 5 pm on any days Hartford Public Schools are off for vacation, including the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. We hope that these new hours give children and caregivers more opportunities to enjoy the carousel during their time off.

Regular Hours:
Fridays, 1 pm to 8 pm

Hartford School Holiday Week Hours:
(We are open on the following HPS holidays)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 19, 12 pm to 5 pm

Presidents’ Day Holidays
Monday, February 16, 12 pm to 5 pm
Tuesday, February 17, 12 pm to 5 pm

Closed in March for winter cleaning and repairs

Spring Break
April 13 through 17, 12 pm to 5 pm

Please note:
❄ On snowy days, the Carousel may close early if the City of Hartford calls a parking ban during normal hours.
🛠 The Carousel will be closed in March 2026 for winter cleaning and repairs.

Address

1 Jewell Street
Hartford, CT
06103

Opening Hours

Friday 1pm - 8pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18602326710

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Bushnell Park Carousel posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Bushnell Park Carousel:

Shortcuts

Share

Category