Ride the Historic Dentzel Carousel

Ride a piece of history! In the summer months, you have the opportunity to ride the Dentzel Carousel and hear the sounds of a rare Wurlitzer Organ! Check the current carousel schedule for operating hours and seasons. If not for the dedicated work of local citizens, this incredible piece of history and art might have been lost forever. Because of their dedication, you can enjoy this whimsical piece of history. The Dentzel Carousel is operated by our partner, the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. About the Carousel During Glen Echo Amusement Park's glory days as an amusement park, the Dentzel Carousel was the jewel of the park. The carousel remains the park's treasured centerpiece. The Dentzel Carousel Company built the carousel, which the amusement park installed in a 12-sided canopy building in 1921. Dentzel Carousels are known for their realistic, graceful animals and elaborate carvings. The Glen Echo carousel is called a "menagerie carousel" because of it is made up of many different animals. The 40 horses, 4 rabbits, 4 ostriches, giraffe, deer, lion, and tiger stand in three concentric rings. The carousel moves to the music of a Wurlitzer band organ, which pipes out music using a system similar to a player piano. Only 12 Wurlitzer organs of this style are known to exist. The carousel was fully restored in 2019-2020. Civil Rights and the Dentzel Carousel For many years, Glen Echo Park was a segregated area. In 1960, the Dentzel Carousel became the object of a civil rights demonstration when Black protesters, with tickets purchased by White sympathizers, attempted to ride the carousel, only to be arrested. The protest sparked continued demonstrations at the park, until it was finally desegregated the following year, 1961. Those who were arrested in 1960 were eventually cleared by the courts in 1964, who cited that their arrest violated the 14th Amendment. Today, you can ride the same animals the protesters sat on.