The Watch Hill Carousel

The historic Flying Horse Carousel circles round and round all summer long to the laughter and squeals of happy children. Couples stroll hand-in-hand along the main street, stopping to browse in quaint shops or share an ice cream soda at an old fashioned soda fountain.

The Flying Horse Carousel

Located at Watch Hill, the flying carousel is considered to be the oldest carousel in America It's history is both fascinating and controversial.

In 1879, a traveling carnival, which could no longer continue on its way, was forced to abandon its merry-go-round in Watch Hill, one of the foremost summer vacation spots of the past century.

The carousel was originally drawn from place to place by a horse, and legend has it that the horse was so faithful to the carousel that when he died his tail was cured and inset into the rump of one of the carousel horses as a permanent memorial.

The carousel is unique in that its horses are not attached to the floor, but hang by chains suspended by overhead "sweeps".

The faster the ride, the farther out the horses swing, hence the name "Flying Horse Carousel."

Unlike most carousels, there is no wooden platform. The horses, smaller than most, "fly" out over a dirt floor.

Their tails and manes are made of real horsehair, the saddles are genuine leather, and the horses possess their original agate eyes.

Each horse is hand-carved from a single piece of wood. Riders are limited to children under 12 years of age.

13 Flying Horse Carousel (1876; Charles Dare Company, builders)

A carousel of 20 carved wood horses suspended from a revolving super- structure on steel rods, sheltered by a dodecagonal hip roof on field stone columns that also support sections of white painted picket fencing.

One of the oldest carousels in the United States--some sources claim the oldest--this is the only flying-horse carouselsurviving in the country.

It was brought to Watch Hill in 1883 and, was originally sheltered under canvas; the present enclosure dates from a later period.

Originally horse-drawn and later wator-powered, it is now electrified. The carousel is maintained by the Watch Hill Improvement Society and underwent restoration in the 1960s and 1970S.  

It was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

 A 1-story structure on wood pilings of wood-panel construction,, comprising flat-roof cabana units arranged in parallel rows with intervening aisles open to the sky.

The Watch Hill Flying Horse Carousel, a major landmark in Rhode Island and on the National Register of Historic Places, was left behind by a traveling carnival. It is considered one of the two oldest carousels in America. The other, located in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, may only be a few years older. Designed by Charles W.F. Dare, the horses are suspended by chains, which gives rise to the name "Flying Horse." The National Register nomination provides a good summary of the carousel.

"Each horse is said to have been carved from a single block of wood, although the legs appear to have been carved separately, and each horse has a leather saddle and bridle and real horsehair tail and mane. The saddle, bridles, tails, and manes have been replaced several times, as is common in carousels, but the horses' agate eyes are the originals.

Each horse is suspended from the heavy wooden framing of the canopy roof by a chain connected at the rump and an iron bar joined to the pommel. The bars may have been substituted for original neck or head chains, perhaps in an attempt to steady the steeds and limit their arc. As the carousel turns, the horses swing out by centrifugal force, hence the enduring and endearing name "Flying Horse Carousel."

Charleton, James. National Register of Historic Places Nomination/ Flying Horse Carousel. August 1985

The technology of the carousel was also of some interest. Again the National Register nomination provides the best insight.

"The carousel was originally powered by a calico horse, who spent his summers walking in circles, and music was provided by a hand organ. In 1897 horsepower gave way to water power, which, in turn, was replaced, about 1914, by electricity. By the turn of the 20th century, the hand organ had been replaced by a band organ which played paper rolls...The ring dispenser is of uncertain date." Charleton, James. National Register of Historic Places Nomination/ Flying Horse Carousel. August 1985

The carousel was battered in the Hurricane of 1938 and most of the horses were buried in the sand dunes, from which they were recovered and restored. Restoration has been ongoing since the 1940's. It is only through these efforts that this important piece of American recreation history is preserved.

Even if the carousel is the most endearing part of Watch Hill, it certainly wasn't the only part.