Young visitors are once again enjoying rides on a beautifully restored historic carousel that has returned to operation on Washington D.C.’s National Mall after undergoing extensive renovation work.
The antique merry-go-round carries significant historical importance, having originally operated at Baltimore’s Gwynn Oak Amusement Park where it became part of civil rights history when the attraction was integrated in 1963.
After Gwynn Oak Amusement Park shuttered its operations, the vintage carousel found a new permanent home on the National Mall, where it has delighted families and children for years before requiring the recent restoration work.
The newly refurbished attraction is now welcoming riders again, with families like Denay Wilkerson and her 2-year-old son Cairo among those enjoying the classic carnival experience in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The Smithsonian’s decision to preserve and restore this particular carousel honors both its entertainment value and its role in American civil rights history, ensuring future generations can experience this piece of the past.
