Doswell in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Carousel

Kings Dominion

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 13, 2025

1. The Carousel Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1917, the Carousel is the 44th of its kind built by the Philadelphia Tobaggan Company. In 1974, the Carousel was purchased from Roger Williams Amusement Park in Rhode Island. Due to needed repairs, the ride did not open again until 1975 when Kings Dominion official opened to the public.

The Carousel is unique in that it has four rows of horses. The outside horses are stationary, while the three inside rows are "jumpers." There are 66 horses in all, each costing approximately $10,000, and two cherub chariots. The two chariots are 5'4" high, 3'10 1/2" wide and 7'10" long. The intricate carvings on each horse are only on the outside and include multicolored saddles with animal skins, torches, flags, bees, Indian beading, swords and flowers.

The Carousel structure included 14 mirrors on its barrel, 1,800 lights and 20 oil paintings, which range from swans on a lake to a man and camel on the desert, and a dog pushing a little boy in a buggy. Dominant colors are white and red, with a gazebo on top and three trumpeters. The red designs on the barrel are actually the naes of the people who first restored the Carousel!

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One on the original horses is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Handcrafted by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. 1917 A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 37° 50.258′ N, 77° 26.703′ W. Marker is in Doswell, Virginia, in Hanover County. It can be reached from Theme Park Way, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell VA 23047, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rebel Yell (a few steps

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 13, 2025

2. The Carousel Marker

from this marker); Hanover Hill Orchard (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Shockwave (about 400 feet away); 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.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Carrousel (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2026, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.