Looff Carrousel

A hand-carved wooden Looff carousel in Spokane's Riverfront Park, first opened at Natatorium Park on July 18, 1909. The City of Spokane describes Charles Looff's carousel as a wedding gift for his daughter Emma.

History

The carousel operated at Natatorium Park before being stored and subsequently returning to service at Riverfront Park in 1975. The City dates Natatorium Park's closure to 1967; the NCA census lists the carousel's Natatorium tenure through 1968. These sources differ on that endpoint.

The Riverfront building used from 1975 to 2016 had previously served as an Expo '74 beer garden. A replacement building provides climate-controlled protection for the carvings; the NCA gallery identifies it as the 2018 building.

The NCA census records National Register of Historic Places recognition in 1977 and an NCA Historic Carousel Award in 1995.

Documented collection

The sources describe 54 jumping horses, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger, and 2 Chinese dragon chariots. The census notes four armored horses and an additional Looff prancing goat from approximately 1890 used as a spare, not an original carousel figure.

The Spokane Carrousel figure directory identifies all 54 horses and their positions, Geri Giraffe, Sneaky the Tiger, and the two dragon chariots. Its inside chariot pages show the reverse sides of the same two figures, not two additional chariots. The chariot numbers distinguish the first and second chariot; they are not individual names.

The directory also lists two spares: Billy Bob, a goat acquired in 2006, and Missoula Lilac, a horse given by the Missoula carvers in appreciation for Spokane's help. Neither is assigned a permanent seat. The directory dates Billy Bob approximately 1885, versus approximately 1890 in the NCA census.

The City describes the original collection as intact, while a January 31, 2019 NCA photograph identifies a contemporary middle-row jumper. Individual carving dates and replacement histories therefore remain unverified.

Geri's figure page estimates carving around 1895 and suggests possible personal attribution to Charles Looff. These are uncertain claims, not exact dates or confirmed individual carving credits.

Music and ring machine

A Ruth & Sohn band organ supplies the music; the census records its conversion to BAB 87-key rolls. The carousel has an operating ring arm. The City describes catching a brass ring and the census notes the use of plastic rings. The City also states that the attraction accommodates wheelchairs.

Seating information

The figure directory confirms twenty radial rows of three rings. Its numbered rows map to this wiki's sections 1-20, and its outside, middle and inside rings map to rows A, B and C. The City's description verifies counterclockwise rotation.

Geri Giraffe anchors 1A using the directory's numbering, not a separately established historical lead-figure designation. Sneaky the Tiger is at 11A. The chariots begin at 1B and 11B and each span B-C. All 58 platform figures are placed according to the directory; this records the source's arrangement, not an independently dated current survey.

Sources

• City of Spokane: Looff Carrousel: opening date, history, collection, accessibility, and rotation.
• NCA Spokane photo gallery: historical photographs and captions.
• NCA census entry 221: three rows, inventory, spare goat, music, awards, and location history; entry last updated in 2020.
• Spokane Carrousel figure directory: twenty-section layout, individual names and positions, two spanning chariots, and two spares.
• 2018 building, contemporary middle-row jumper, and dragon chariot: photographs dated January 31, 2019.