Bryan Rollins
As the days grow crisper outside you can “feel” the holiday cheer everywhere. The merriment, the need for copious amounts of hot chocolate and being close to home surrounded by family and friends is what makes this time of year extra special as we celebrate Christmas and the holiday season.
No place is that feeling of nostalgia more evident than at the Children’s Museum of Memphis where children and adults alike will celebrate a special homecoming.
On Saturday, December 2, the Children’s Museum of Memphis will host the grand opening of the Memphis Grand Carousel. People of all ages will be able to relive old memories and create new ones on the carousel atop the wooden horses.
Bryan Rollins
History of the Horses
The Memphis Grand Carousel is one of the oldest wooden carousels in the United States. Thousands of Memphians have some kind of memories of the Grand Carousel. It was built in 1909, and was originally purchased by the Memphis Park Commission in 1923.
The Grand Carousel is a classic and famous merry-go-round with ornate horses, hand-carved by Gustave Dentzel, a German immigrant and famous builder of carousels. The Grand Carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The Memphis Grand Carousel sat in storage for ten years after Libertyland, the midtown amusement park where children rode it, closed in 2005. When the CMOM acquired the carousel, it was shipped off to Ohio for more than two years of restoration. And a few weeks ago it returned to Memphis courtesy a 18-wheel tractor trailer, a donation from FedEx.
During the time period of the carousel being away from Memphis for restoration, the Children’s Museum constructed an all-new facility in the shape of a pavilion located next to the Children’s Museum. The restoration of the horses cost $1 million but the entire building project, which took a little over two years to complete, cost more than $4 million.
The CMOM is now one of only three accredited children’s museums in the country to house an authentic operational Dentzel grand carousel.
Old Meets the New
Bryan Rollins
The Memphis Grand Carousel for all its historic charm has some new hi-tech bells and whistles that will cater to all riders.
“Here at the Children’s Museum we create memories through a fun and educational environment. The Grand Carousel is an extension of that. Everybody rides. It’s all inclusive,” says Art Davis, COO of the Children’s Museum.
For example, wheelchair-bound children who can not ride one of the horses will be able to pull into a specially-designed chariot on the carousel where they can grasp the reigns just like on the horse and a companion can ride along beside them.
“We think about every day how we can find fun, educational opportunities for everyone,” according to Davis.
Even the music that riders will hear on the carousel will sound like it did from back in the day but it will be blasting from a digital sound system using an iPod-type of device.
The simple joy of letting children be children is the number one highlight of the Grand Carousel opening at the museum and that experience is priceless and timeless.
Playtime at CMOM
Bryan Rollins
The Children’s Museum of Memphis is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Christmas Day) The educational fun facility is located at 2525 Central Avenue in Midtown Memphis.
The Carousel Grand Opening is December 2 at 10 a.m. Carousel rides are included with the price of admission.
Admission Price: $15 (ages 1-100+)
Family membership
Children’s Museum offers varying levels of membership. (2-7 people) $125 - $195
Grandparent membership (up to 4 people) $160
Yes, EVERY Child!
Families that cannot afford to pay admission may apply for a “Yes, EVERY Child!” membership by stopping by the museum during regular business hours.