Cass County Dentzel Carousel

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Spencer Park Dentzel Carousel

| nrhp_type = nhl

| image = Spencer Park Dentzel Carousel.jpg

| caption = Animals on the carousel

| location = Riverside Park, Logansport, Indiana

| coordinates = {{coord|40|45|33.94|N|86|21|20.08|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = USA Indiana Cass County#Indiana#USA

| area =

| built = 1900

| architect = Dentzel Carousel Corp.

| architecture =

| designated_nrhp_type = February 27, 1987{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1989&ResourceType=Structure|title=Spencer Park Dentzel Carousel|access-date=2008-03-27|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605231330/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1989&ResourceType=Structure|archive-date=2011-06-05}}

| added = February 27, 1987{{NRISref|2007a}}

| refnum = 87000838

}}

The Cass County Dentzel Carousel, formerly known as the Spencer Park Dentzel Carousel and also known as the Riverside Park Dentzel Carousel or Logansport Carousel, is a historic carousel in Riverside Park of Logansport, Indiana. Built by the Dentzel Carousel Company, probably by 1900, it is one of the company's oldest surviving menagerie-style carousels, with animals likely hand-carved by George Dentzel. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Spencer Park Dentzel Carousel (1919-1962) / Riverside Park Dentzel Carousel (1962-date); Logansport Carousel|url={{NHLS url|id=87000838}} |format=pdf|date=March 1985 |author=James H. Charleton |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=87000838|title=Accompanying four photos, exterior and interior, from 1985, and one photo of a related Mississippi carousel|photos=y}} {{small|(32 KB)}}

Description and history

The carousel is now located in the playground area of Logansport's Riverside Park, in a utilitarian multisided building. It is {{convert|42|ft|m}} in diameter, with animals arrayed three abreast on its sixteen spreading platforms. The animals depicted include deer, giraffes, a lion and a tiger, and a variety of horses. There are four two-seat chariots. The carousel includes its original mechanism for dispensing rings, in which the recipient of the brass ring is awarded a free ride. The organ and power plant (electric now, but originally steam) are of uncertain provenance, and may not be original.

The exact construction date of the carousel is not known. It has been estimated to have been built c. 1900-1903, but may be older. It was apparently built for the Fort Wayne Consolidated Railway Company, which operated Robison Park, an amusement park outside Fort Wayne. The park closed in 1919, and the carousel was then moved to Logansport, where it operated in Spencer Park for many years. In 1949 it was moved to Riverside Park, and in 1972 it was purchased by the non-profit Cass County Carousel. In 1993 it underwent a complete restoration, in which its original paint job was restored.{{cite web|url=https://www.casscountycarousel.com/carousel-history/|title="Carousel History"|publisher=Cass County Carousel|accessdate=2021-05-01}}

Two other existing Dentzel Carousel Company carousels are also declared National Historic Landmarks. The Highland Park Dentzel Carousel and Shelter Building survives in Mississippi and the Broad Ripple Park Carousel is in Indianapolis.