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Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
The Carrousel Society

The Carrousel Society of the Niagara Frontier: The concept of the Allan Herschell Company building complex as a museum originated in a grass roots effort by the local community to return a Herschell carousel to the area. The Carrousel Society of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. was chartered in 1982 by the New York State Board of Regents to collect, preserve and interpret artifacts and archival materials from the carousel, band organ and amusement ride industries on the Niagara Frontier.

The Society has grown to over 600 members nationwide, and the Museum has expanded from owning a 1916 carousel and occupying the Allan Herschell Company's historic roundhouse, to owning and occupying the entire building, operating two carousels and holding over 5,000 historic artifacts related to local history, the amusement industry, the lumber industry and automatic musical instrument industry.

The Carrousel Factory Museum as it stands today. The Volunteer-Based Carrousel Society of the Niagara Frontier has raised over $750,000 to restore a major portion of the building complex, purchase significant artifacts and produce exhibits.

Funding for these projects has been awarded from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Federal Institute of Museum Services, the New York State Natural Heritage Trust, the Environmental Quality Bond Act, the New York State Council on the Arts, Niagara County, numerous Western New York foundations and corporations, as well as individual donors and fundraising events. Most recently the Museum was awarded a grant from the National Historic Society in recognition of the significance of the Wurlitzer Music Roll Shop exhibit.

The Carrousel Society of the Niagara Frontier has embarked on a most unusual endeavor to provide a source of continuing funding for the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. We are thrilled to announce the purchase and return of the Allan Herschell Company from Chance Manufacturing. The company is once again operating in North Tonawanda to supply parts for all remaining Herschell amusement rides, other than carousels. Proceeds from this for-profit corporation will help support the operating expenses of the Museum, as well as establish an endowment fund.