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Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
The Museums Location

The Museum is open to the general public from April through December.

Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors and $2.50 for children ages 2-12.

Museum hours:

April 1 - June 11: Wed - Sun   Noon - 4 PM

June 14 - Sept 4: Mon-Sat 10 AM-4 PM; Sun Noon-4 PM

September 6 - December 30: Wed-Sun   Noon-4 PM

Group Tours are scheduled year round. We have successfully hosted over 350 tours annually from all regions of the United States and numerous foreign countries. Call us to schedule a visit at your convenience.

For more information on our Guided Tours and Outreach programs, click here.

The Museum is located at 180 Thompson Street in North Tonawanda, New York, four blocks north of the Erie Canal and two blocks east of the Niagara River. North Tonawanda is midway between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, an easy 15 minute drive from either city.

        

Guided Tours: Guided tours of the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum are available for groups of 10 or more with advance reservations. They may be scheduled almost any day and time throughout the year, even when the Museum is not open to the general public. Tours should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, and all visits are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.

Tours can be adapted to all ages, from preschool to senior citizen. The price for guided tours is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children ages 2-12. Tour company representatives, teachers, and Scout leaders are given complimentary admission with the group. Tour companies which bring 10 or more bus tours annually are offered a discounted admission rate.

Guided tours last approximately 50-55 minutes for adults and 30-45 minutes for children. Our docents lead visitors throughout the public spaces in the factory complex, explaining the history of carousel and band organ production in the Tonawandas and the operation of this particular factory.

Tour groups view large photo murals mounted throughout the building showing the factory complex in operation in 1919, as well as the carving shop, the music roll production shop, and the Lockman Exhibit, a private collection of 20 carousel animals on loan to the museum. All visits end with a ride on either our 1916 #1 Special adult carousel or our Kiddie Carousel in the Children's Gallery.

Other amenities include a wonderful gift shop, handicapped-accessible restrooms and motor coach parking. For more information, or to schedule a tour, contact the museum at (716) 693-1885. We would be happy to assist with other arrangements you may require for your visit to the Tonawandas.

Note: A $25.00 charge will be invoiced for tours which have not been canceled at least 48 hours before the scheduled time of arrival. Please plan to stay a minimum of one and one half hours, so your guests will have time to see all of our exhibits and browse in our gift shop.

Outreach Program: The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum works closely with schools to interpret appropriate aspects of local history. Speakers will visit classrooms with artifacts, photos, slides and band organ music. A "Learning Box" is available for loan in the classroom to be used as a before or after Museum visit. Speakers are also available for programs at other sites.