Bushnell Park Carousel — Attraction in Hartford

Great place for young and the young at heart. This is a classic carousel with horses that are beautifully maintained. It is a real treat to visit. A great place for a birthday party too! It’s a sweet surprise to find a vintage 1914 carousel standing in Bushnell Park. There, by the shadow of skyscrapers and a giant Turkey Oak, a 24-sided pavilion houses 48 hand-carved wooden horses and two lovers’ chariots that swirl around a booming Wurlitzer band organ. Turning 100 years old in 2014, this Carousel maintains the past, while the future buds all around it.

For just $2.00, you get a 3 1/2 minute ride that can blur your worries, trick you into feeling young and enlarge the eyes of even the widest-eyed youngster. The Knox Foundation brought the carousel to Hartford from Canton, Ohio, in 1974. Jack Dollard, director of the Foundation at the time, thought the horses would symbolize Hartford’s restoration.

The New England Carousel Museum received the contract to manage the Bushnell Park Carousel in 1999 and began work to fully restore the Carousel in time for her 100th birthday celebration in 2014. Work on the horses is continuous, and you can see the progress as you the carousel swirls. Currently, this carousel is only one of three left Stein & Goldstein carousels left operating in this country.

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They, like many carousel craftsmen, started in Russia as carvers of women’s hair combs. They came to the United States in the late 1800s to carve carousel horses for Coney Island, which at the height of the Golden Age, from 1880 to 1930, had some 17 carousels operating. Stein and Goldstein horses are big passionate animals with their eyes wide, their nostrils flared and in some circumstances their tongues sticking out. Huge and colorful cabbage roses festoon their bodies and they have real horse hair tails

Eventually, they built a reputation as “artistic carousel manufacturers” and they built carousels when there were at least 3,000 in the United States, when riders on the outside row reached for the brass rings. A ride was considered a dare because 15 mph was faster than anything until the invention of the roller coaster gave carousels a more romantic reputation–and fewer riders.

Every year thousands of riders take the dare and go for the thrill of riding on Hartford’s magnificent and historic Stein and Goldstein carousel. It is a...

I am a service dog handler of 7yrs and had the WORST public access issue of my life here.

Outside, there is a sign that says service dog's are welcome.

We waited a moment inside to purchase our tickets. As soon as the lady came back to the counter, she was DEMANDING to see my dogs harness and "paperwork". (Both of which are not required for access per the ADA Law)

I told her that there wasn't any registration or paperwork I was required to produce. She then had an issue that my dogs gear was green and not red like the dog on the sign. (Which was incorrect anyways, lol)

She gave us the wrong business card to call for our issue.

we could not get the manager on the phone.

She refused to understand that she was a task trained seizure assistance K9. Or the ADA Law that states that she's not allowed to ask for paperwork or certification. (Because that's not how to LEGALLY determine I'd a dog is a service animal.)

(Businesses are allowed to ask 2 questions: Is that a service dog required because of a disability. & What tasks are they trained to perform)

She threatened to call the police. Which I then asked her to please do. I ended up calling them myself.

We spoke on the phone with an officer who helped mediate the situation.

She was then concerned for "the safety of the dog" and her training to be on the ADA accessible ride. Siting that as a reason to denie access. (Even though presumably dogs with "papers" are allowed??)

We came to a compromise where I would sit in the boot with my dog on the ride & rhe attendant would be watching to make sure we didn't get on a horse while on the ride.

(Note: Parents are allowed to stand and assist their children on the ride. My dog would have layed down next to the horse. Admission is all that was required)

I got to ride the ride, although not in the way I wanted. It took almost 45min to sort out the ordeal in the lobby with her yelling at us to get out or produce paperwork.

This is unacceptable.

Bushnell Park, you need to train your employees better to handle this.

When I asked how Miss. Lorreta handled service dogs on the ride who had "paperwork" she refused to answer my question.

She refused to even look at the ADA or listen to me about this situation. She was dead set on having a meaningless "paper" or uneducated Officer tell her if my service dog was...

Absolutely Great place to hang out. It's very scenic and is large enough for a nice walk. Th view of the capital makes it pretty majestic. The carousel and playgroudn are great for the kids, and the pathways are a blesign for a romantic couple. There are other parts of the park without walk ways so you can just relax and take in some nature inteh middle of hte city. Not a park for BBQs. Concerts and rallies meet here. Great for reading a novel, playing with he kids, or frisbee with yoru dog. Lots of trees to sit under, but not so intrusive that you can't play a game of soccer. Trees scatter the landscape in and aroudn the park. There one road that drives through the park and under a very small castle. There is limited parking around and most parking are meters. Many buses are here, and it's EASY walkign distance from downtown. There are beautiful statues in the park to gaze upon. I will try to take pictures on my next lunch break. Homeless roaming the park number 1-2 which is very small compared to the size of the park. A nice date could be dinner at Vitos, walk through the park, and a play at the Bushnell. Maybe dancing at Kojis's which is a little walk from the park. Google the distance before walking to Koji. Teh edges of teh park can be less desirable for some, but I don't mind. Desirable by the hangout crowd. Few children and teens ever...