Carousel of Happiness Inc

“The carousel of happiness consists of 56 wooden animals, hand-carved by scott harrison of nederland, on a restored 1910 looff carousel. All of the artwork and historical treasures are meticulously cared for by the organization for use in a functioning carousel and to preserve them for future generations. The original bearings, gears, and metal work on the carousel have been restored or rebuilt for continued use. A few pieces have been replaced because of safety concerns. The original electric motor and controller were retooled by general electric to conform to modern day use. A new floor was built using southern yellow pine, a material that was used in many original carousel floors. The wood was cut in 1890 and used as cribbing for whiskey barrels for a seagram's plant in peoria, illinois; the plant was later dismantled and the wood resold to be used as floor planks for the carousel of happiness. An exhibit of framed photographs depicting the history of the carousel and its condition before it was rescued by harrison in 1986, adorn the walls surrounding the carousel. Decorative panels, known as rounding boards, which surround the top of a carousel, were donated by carousel collector marianne stevens since those belonging to the original looff carousel were missing. The outside rounding boards, painted by "michelangelo of the midway" august wolfinger, were rescued from a 1910 carousel originally built by fred dolle (brother-in-law of charles i.d. Looff) for the silver beach amusement park in st. Joseph, michigan. They were repaired and restored by the late denver restoration artist edwin friedman. Sixteen of the oval paintings on the inside of the rounding boards, depicting endangered species, were painted by v. Vladimir in 1995 for a new carousel then being built in san antonio, texas. The owner of that carousel decided later to incorporate a different design, so these paintings were donated to the carousel of happiness. Because we have 18 sections to this carousel, nederland artist dorothy emerling generously volunteered to paint two extra panels representing polar bears and amur leopards. The somewhere else wall is another work of art by harrison inside the carousel's main room. It depicts a portal or passageway through which the carousel animals appear to come and go from this world. Various figures, including a polar bear, giraffe, penguin and dog, are captured at different stages of "in between." the somewhere else wall is finished in a centuries-old fresco technique by ryan chivers. Other artistic or historical treasures owned by the carousel of happiness include: " the gift shop counter top, made of very rare, cuban mahogany planks, donated by chris mccormick of golden, colorado. " the carnival horse that hangs above the doorway to the gift shop from the carousel house is a 1930's era hershell with a wooden body and aluminum head and legs, donated by don wick of monument, colorado. " the puppet theatre was originally a band organ cabinet, made in the early 1900's by john muzzio and son, of new york city. Now, without its musical instruments, it serves as a little theater for puppeteers. Its original faade has carved dragons, and is mounted on the downstairs wall just to the left as one enters the carousel house. The carousel also had on temporary exhibit a rocking goat that was donated to the carousel for short-term exhibition. The goat is a replica of an early 1900's goat carving created for one of the large carousels of the time. The original sculptor is unknown, although most of the fine carousel carvings of the period were attributed to the talented daniel carl muller. The rocking goat sculpture was sold during a fundraising auction in 2023 and the proceeds were used to support the carousel.”

“The carousel of happiness is a magical menagerie featuring 56 whimsical animals hand-carved by scott harrison of nederland on a restored 1910 looff carousel, turning to the music of a 1913 wurlitzer band organ. The spirit of the century-old carousel combined with the new carvings and intertwined with harrison's personal story of how he came to create the carousel, all play a part in inspiring happiness, well-being and service to others through stories and experiences.”