| The wooden carousel in Highland Park, which may date from as early as 1885-90, although it is more likely from 1892-99, is probably the oldest of the three earliest Dentzel menagerie carousels that are virtually intact. Its closest contemporaries, both in Indiana, are the Children's Museum carousel in Indianapolis, probably pre-1900, which has been finely restored--though it is not a pure Dentzel--and that in Logansport, only partially restored, which is generally dated between 1900 and 1903. All three have been moved, those in Indianapolis and Logansport relatively recently. The Dentzel in Meridian arrived there in 1909, and it is the only one still in the "shelter," or carousel house, which was built 1909. The carousel house is a rare survivor, built from Dentzel blueprints. The Meridian carousel is one of only two extant two-animal abreast Dentzels, and it is also one of the few in the U.S. that retains most of its original "scenery" oil paintings. The Dentzel Carousel Company was located in Philadelphia, Pa. Highland Park was listed on the National Register on 28 February 1979. The Carousel and Carousel House were designated a National Historic Landmark on 27 February 1987. The Dentzel Carousel and its carousel house are included in "Buildings of Mississippi" (2020) (p. 223, EM24.1). |