The Carrousel

Photographed by F. Robby, August 8, 2008

1. The Carrousel Marker

Original marker

Inscription.
Manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, "No. 44" first opened in 1917 at Riverside park in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1938 the ride was sold to Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island, then came to Kings Dominion in 1973 during park construction.

"Carrousel" with two R's is the original spelling of this word.

The Carrousel still operates on the original Auchy Friction Drive, a device patented in 1969.

The ride features 66 hand-carved boxwood horses, of which 16 are stationary and 50 are "jumpers".

FUN FACT
One of the original horses is in the Smithsonian Institute.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1917.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 50.258′ N, 77° 26.703′ W. Marker was in Doswell, Virginia, in Hanover County. It could be reached from the intersection of Kings Dominion Boulevard (Virginia Route 30) and Theme Park Way. Marker is located within the Kings Dominion theme park, at the Carousel ride. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell VA 23047, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Carousel (here, next to this marker); Rebel Yell (a few steps from this marker); The Shockwave (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Blue Ridge Tollway (about 500 feet away); Water Works (about 600 feet away); The Wave Swinger (about 600 feet away); The Shenandoah Lumber Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Eiffel Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Doswell.

The Carrousel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, August 8, 2008

2. The Carrousel

Photographed by F. Robby, August 8, 2008

3. The Carrousel

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2009, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 841 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2009, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.