Brookfield in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Carousel

Opened in 2006

— Brookfield Zoo; Since 1934 —

The Carousel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 2, 2025

1. The Carousel Marker

Inscription. This whirling work of art is 54 feet in diameter and contains more than 40 depictions of animals, plus three chariots. It took up to 40 hours to carve each figure. As of its opening, this carousel was the largest modern hand-carved wooden carousel in the world.

Erected by Chicago Zoological Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 2006.

Location. 41° 50.054′ N, 87° 50.013′ W. Marker is in Brookfield, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from 31st Street near Golfview Road, on the right when traveling east. The marker is affixed to the structure covering the carousel at Brookfield Zoo. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8400 31st Street, Brookfield IL 60513, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: King Nyani (within shouting distance of this marker); Brookfield Zoo Chicago (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Fragile Kingdom (about 400 feet away); Wild African Lions (about 400 feet away); Theodore Roosevelt Fountain (about 400 feet away); Australia House (about 400 feet

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away); Partners in Conservation (about 500 feet away); Hamza (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brookfield.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Partners in Conservation (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Riverside-Brookfield Landmark: A new spin on an old favorite. A 2006 article about the opening of the carousel at the Brookfield Zoo.

Excerpt: "Having officially opened at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, the Brookfield Zoo Carousel spins 72 animal figures and three chariots. The latter are sitting benches that do not go up and down. Both animals and chariots are not constructed out of cast aluminum, or even more modern fiberglass, as you might expect. Instead, they are carved in the old-fashioned manner, out of wood. What kind of wood? Basswood, which is produced from the good old American linden trees, of which there are several examples in Brookfield."

(Submitted on October 2, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 2, 2025

2. The Carousel Marker

The Carousel at Brookfield Zoo image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 2, 2025

3. The Carousel at Brookfield Zoo

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 75 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 2, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.