Census of Dentzel Carousels
5 Generations
Contents
- Gen 1: Michael Dentzel, construction and operation in southern Germany, early 19th
century, none of his complete carousels are known to exist today.
- Gens 2-3: Gustav and his sons William 1 and Edward Dentzel, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, 1861-1927
- Gen 4: William H. Dentzel 2, Santa
Barbara, 1975-1991
- Gen 5: William H. Dentzel 3, Mexico, Santa Barbara, Port Townsend,
1981-present. Rope-pull powered,
Hand-crank powered,
110AC electric powered, Solar/electric powered.
Antique
Dentzel Carousels
(1861-1927)
These are all
hand carved wooden carousels
on either standing or galloping platform frames powered by large
electric motors made by Gustav Dentzel
(Michael's son who came by ship with a carousel from Germany to America
mid-1800's), William I, and Edward Dentzel (Gustav's two sons) between
1892 and 1926, (some of these machines may also have animals from other
makers on them).
- California:
- 1. Disneyland, Anaheim.
- 2. Knotts's Berry Farm, Buena Park.
- 3. Castle
Park, Riverside.
- 4. San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco.
- Illinois:
- 1. Six Flag's Great America. Gurneo.
- Indiana:
- 1. Indianapolis Children's Museum, Indianapolis.
- 2. Riverside Park, Logansport.
- Maryland:
- Mississippi:
- 1. Highland Park, Meridian.
- Missouri:
- New Jersey:
- 1. Casino Pier, Seaside Heights.
- New York:
- 1. Ontario Beach Park, Rochester.
- North Carolina:
- 1. Burlington City Park, Burlington.
- 2. Pullen Park, Raleigh.
- Ohio:
- 1. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky.
- Oregon:
- Pennsylvania:
- 1. Weona Park, Pen Argyl.
- 2. Kennywood Park, West Mifflin (south of Pittsburgh).
- 3. Dorney Park, Allentown.
- 4. Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, undergoing
restoration, on loan from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission in Harrisburg, this carousel was formerly held in storage at
the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
- 5. Rocky Springs Carousel, considering a home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Tennessee
- 1. Libertyland, Memphis. (For Sale as of 2006)
- 2. Dollywood, Pigeon Forge.
- Texas:
- 1. Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington.
- 2. Fair Park, Dallas.
- 3. Astroworld, Houston. (For Sale as of 2006)
- Vermont:
- 1. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne.
- Canada:
- 1. Centreville, Centre Island, Toronto, Ontario.
Back to Contents
Recent Dentzel Carousels, William H.
Dentzel II (1975-1991)
Using his
wooden originals, William H.
Dentzel II (1921-1991) made molds of his carousel animals and used the
fiberglass figures to make a dozen small children's carousels ranging
from 6.5 feet to 9.5
feet in diameter carrying either 4 or 8 riders. Aside from these
animals which were used on his carousels, William
H. Dentzel made numerous other carvings including, large carousel
animals as well as miniatures.
Marion Dentzel was a major force and
inspiration for the renaissance of the Dentzel carousel spirit; she
continues this great work and still lives in Santa Barbara, CA.
- 1. 1975, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
- 2. 1979, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Rehabilitaion
Room, Los Angeles, CA
- 3. 1979. Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, CA.
- 4. 1980, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, Santa Barbara CA.
- 5. 1980. Ronald MacDonald House, Los Angeles, CA.
- 6. 1981, Ronald MacDonald House, San Diego, CA.
- 7. 1982, Maryvale Orphan Asylum, Los Angeles, CA.
- 8. 1982, Gabiste Machine, San Raphael, CA.
- 9. 1983, La Habra Children's Museum, La Habra, CA.
- 10. 1986, Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children,
Dallas, TX.
- 11. 1987, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (replacement
carousel) Santa Barbara,CA.
- 12. 1989, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA.
- 13. 1991. Happy Times School, Burlington, NC.
Back to Contents
Contemporary
Dentzel Carousels, William
H. Dentzel III (1981-present)
These are 12,
14, or 20 foot diameter stationary and portable "Flying Horses"
Carousels that carry either 5 or 10 riders. They are all hand carved
wooden carousels on a "flying horses" type of frame; some with human
powered mechanisms (rope-pull, hand-crank, or foot-pedal), others with
electric motors. William H. Dentzel III (b. 1949) also
makes individual display menagerie animals, coin-operated single animal
rides, and bas-relief carvings (for sale at Elevated Ice Cream Store in
Port Townsend WA;
read stories of each
carousel's construction:
- 1. 1981-Today,
Ochuxsop, Chiapas, Mexico (Ejido's Jardin de Niņos),
Rope-pull powered. Stationary
type carousel with wooden centerpole. 12' diameter. Photo of carousel in
Jardin de Niņos school yard. One of
the
simple horses, drawing showing the
tiger chariot. Photos by Antonio
Turok.
- 2. 1984-Not Sure,
Jalapa, Nicaragua (Parque Central)
Rope-pull powered. Stationary type carousel with wooden
centerpole. 14' diameter. Town park playground built by volunteers with
carousel and palapa. Carousel
set-up for final check before delivery.
- 3. 1986-Today,
Kelsey, California (North Star Tree Farm)
Hand-crank powered. Stationary type carousel with
steel/wooden centerpole. 14' diameter. Carousel before
delivery to tree farm, on old Port Townsend pier.
- 4.
1991-1999, Sausalito, California (Bay Area Discovery Museum, sold and
moved to Washington State)
Foot-pedal powered. Stationary
type carousel with steel centerpole. 20' diameter. Bringing in the
animals; pedaling
the
ride. 2000, Operated at Port Townsend Wood Boat Festival.
2001-Today, Olympia, Washington (Hunter's Christmas Tree Farm and Pumpkin
Patch)
Foot-pedal powered.
- 5. 1995-Today,
Davis, California (Central Park)
Foot-pedal powered. Stationary type carousel with wooden
centerpole. 20' diameter. Take a look at some of the parts;
cow and corgie, frog
and seal,
pig and bunny, scenic
panels,
rounding boards and shields, and finally
the
kids painting. Recent
seal replacement.
- 6. 1995,
Port Townsend, Washington (Port Townsend
Carousel Association)
Foot-pedal and Solar/electric
powered. Stationary type carousel with wooden
centerpole. 20' diameter. Young rider enjoying a flying
ride on Hippocampus at Wooden Boat Festival. 2007, Waveland,
Mississippi (downtown) new home for carousel, donated by the PTCA as
part of the hurricane Katrina reconstruction effort. Visit Waveland
Community Carousel webpage to see carousel site plans.
- 7. 1996-Today,
McMinnville, Tennessee (Bonnie and Steve Davis)
Hand-crank powered. Portable
type carousel with steel centerpole. 20' diameter.
Jack and Noah had to test the ride first; Bonnie and Steve painted
the whole carousel themselves.
- 8. 2021,
Port Towsend WA: 2005-2011, Hopland, California, 2012-2014 Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, Hand-crank, Solar/electric
powered, and 110AC electric powered.
Portable type carousel with steel centerpole. 20' diameter.
Construction photos at the Port Townsend workshop. THIS CAROUSEL IS READY TO GO AND NEEDS A HOME ASAP, January 2021.
- 9. 1998-Today,
Madison, Connecticut (Lenny
and Joe's Fishtale Carousel Page)
110AC electric powered.
Stationary type carousel with wooden centerpole. 20' diameter. Showing off the
Hippocampus (photo) on the Magical
Fishtale Charity Carousel.
- 10. 2005, Port Townsend, Washington (For Sale, awaiting menagerie animals).
Stationary type carousel with wooden centerpole and galvanized metal
parts; all power options available, no animals or scenic panels yet
made. 20' diameter.
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Last updated January 3, 2021