Carousel Animals Make Heads Spin Downtown Display Features 57 Cool Critters
The colorful carousel creatures on display in downtown Spokane’s Patterson Building looked eager for a spin about the room.
Children rushed at them, shrieking with delight.
Parents - muttering words such as “gorgeous” and “beautiful” - told their children “Don’t touch” while they stifled their own urges to run a finger down the animals’ silky smooth sides.
“Who wouldn’t want to touch them?” asked Vanessa Wilson, a downtown security guard who’s supposed to keep the hands off. “I want to touch them.”
The 57 animals - captured mid-pounce, mid-roar and mid-gallop - came from the International Museum of Carousel Art, temporarily housed in Hood River, Ore.
The Downtown Spokane Partnership, which includes business and property owners, brought the display to Spokane as part of this year’s holiday celebration, said Annie Matlow, marketing director.
It opened Friday in the building at 715 W. Main and continues through Dec. 29.
“This community has a very special connection to carousels,” Matlow said.
The merry-go-round animals caught mid-spin for display were handcarved by the Looff Company of Brooklyn, N.Y. That’s the same company that made the Carrousel in Riverfront Park.
The museum animals were built between 1876 and 1912 for carousels from San Diego, Calif., to Oakland Bay, R.I.
While many of the wooden creatures have been restored, a few look weathered and rustic with just traces of paint remaining.
A note next to one majestic looking horse explained the animal survived a fire and a hurricane before being taken apart and placed in “many, many boxes.” A faded, black-and-white photograph of a child on the horse helped the museum piece it back together.
The display includes a cuddly teddy bear with a movable head, a fearsome, toothy lion halfway through a roar, a bluish-green dragon with yellow eyes and a purple mane that looks frighteningly close to breathing fire.
There are goats, zebras and camels, a Saint Bernard, a reindeer and an elephant. There’s even a great blue heron.
It was the tiger that captured Tyrece Hadley’s 10-year-old heart. “I like the stripes on it and the color of it,” said Tyrece. “And, it’s also meeeeaaan.”
At first glance, the dragon mesmerized Ben Mancke.
“Look, mom. A dragon!” the 13-year-old shrieked, followed quickly by a deep “Wooooooow.”
“Isn’t it glorious?” said his mom, Jan Mancke.
Ben inched closer to the creature’s front leg and announced: “The biceps look like abs.”
“Dude. It’s a dragon,” snapped Ben’s twin, Dave, astonished by his brother’s criticism. “That’s a mythical creature.”
“I know. It’s cool,” said Ben.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON DISPLAY The carousel display is open Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 6 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.