Nov
01

What goes around comes around

Secretary S. Dillon Ripley rides the carousel in front of the Arts and Industries Building.

My colleagues in the Castle often tell me I am having too much fun, but it is hard not to when each day I get to hear the music from the Smithsonian Carousel and the laughter of kids enjoying their rides. It brings back memories of my childhood in the rural south when a traveling carnival would come to town and a ride on the carousel for me was a treat of the year. Many years later, kids are much more sophisticated and they have many opportunities for entertainment, but a ride on the carousel still is a moment of pure joy. So it did not take much convincing when our National Zoo’s director, Dennis Kelly, explained his idea for a carousel, one that was identified in the Zoo’s Master Plan. This will not be any old carousel meant simply to entertain. The new Speedwell Conservation Carousel, scheduled to open in mid-November, was specially created to educate zoogoers of all ages, reflecting the Smithsonian’s commitment to biodiversity and species conservation. And it will be self-supporting, revenue-generating and sustainable.

In the summer of 1967, the eighth Secretary of the Smithsonian, S. Dillon Ripley, installed a classic 1922 merry-go-round on the National Mall outside the Arts and Industries Building. Despite dismissal from curmudgeonly critics, the carousel was a big hit with visitors. In 1981, Secretary Ripley upgraded with a larger 1947 vintage replacement, still a hit today. The new carousel at the National Zoo was built to our design by Carousel Works, the world’s largest manufacturer of wooden carousels. Dedicated craftspeople constructed a 42-foot diameter ride that pays homage to classic carousels of the golden age, but reflects four natural habitats—aquatic, forest, grassland and desert. It includes 58 custom-carved conservation species related to Smithsonian research, many of which are at the Zoo. Some are of particular interest locally, such as the Baltimore oriole (no offense, Yankees fans!), while some are universal symbols of conservation, such as the giant panda. The top of the carousel will feature scenery panels of birds in flight from each of the four habitats. Information about each of the species represented by the carved figures will be printed around the columns that support them, including  the Asian elephant which can be found at the Zoo’s Elephant Trails exhibit, or the scimitar-horned oryx, which is part of the Species Survival Plan breeding program at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. Also included is a naked mole rat, a humble creature that kids consistently vote as one of the most popular animals at the Zoo.

The site of the carousel near the Great Cats exhibit has been leveled and will be covered by a pavilion and made fully accessible to disabled riders. Like the Asia Trail and the brand new American Trail, the carousel is built to incorporate sustainable concepts, including a permeable site covering that will allow water to be absorbed into the ground and an array of solar cells which will run the carousel. The solar cells, donated by Pepco Energy Services, are expected to often generate more energy than needed for the carousel, with the excess directed for use elsewhere in the park. An interactive kiosk will allow visitors to track  how much solar energy is being generated and used.

The cost of creating and building the carousel was covered by a generous donor, the Speedwell Foundation, and many sponsors who eagerly made donations to have their names placed on the animal of their choice (including Patty Bartlett and John Lapiana, who put their names on the Naked Mole Rat). Thanks also to the District Department of the Environment, who provided support to create a rain garden at the carousel site to prevent storm runoff.

The National Zoo has undertaken numerous fun-filled recent projects that also educate visitors about the wondrous creatures of nature who share our planet. The carousel will join the Kids’ Farm as a special treat for children to enjoy.

Thanks to all of the hard work by Dennis Kelly and his entire staff, including Chuck Fillah and Jen Daniels of the Zoo’s Planning and Strategic Initiatives department, Lesli Creedon in Advancement, and the National Zoo’s facilities team, the new carousel is on track for completion in time for ZooLights. The completion of the Speedwell Conservation Carousel will bring us one step closer to reaching the 10-year Master Plan goal of transforming the National Zoo into the world’s finest zoo.

At the Smithsonian, we use all of the tools at our disposal to spark the imagination of visitors online and in person, from social media to interactive exhibits to multimedia. Now, the National Zoo is taking a trip back to the future by using an old-fashioned ride to educate visitors of all ages while it entertains. During Secretary Ripley’s tenure, he was known to ride the carousel that he brought to the Mall, right alongside young visitors. The Zoo is full of that same adventurous, energetic spirit, and the Speedwell Conservation Carousel will help bring out the kid in everyone. I invite you to take a ride the next time you visit. Who knows, you might even see me riding a naked mole rat!

Click any image to view a slideshow of the Carousel’s creatures.


Posted: 1 November 2012
About the Author:

Wayne Clough served as the 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 2008 to 2013. He oversaw several major openings at the Smithsonian, including the Sant Ocean Hall at the Museum of Natural History and the reopening of the American History Museum.

3 Responses to What goes around comes around
    • cathi morrison
    • As a antique carousel lover, I have to ask, what happened to the figures from the 1922 carousel? Worn out maybe, but always restorable! I hope they are somewhere in the “Attic” Does any one have the answer?

      • Alex di Giovanni
      • This information comes from Richard Stamm, curator of the Castle Collection, and should tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Mall carousel!

        “The first carousel on the Mall in front of the Arts and Industries was one on loan from the National Cathedral. The Hallows Guild of the Cathedral purchased a ca. 1900 carousel in 1966 after having rented it for several previous years for its annual flower mart. The Guild considered renting it out for the remainder of the year, but considered that to be too expensive and instead decided on a lend/lease arrangement with the Smithsonian. In the meantime, the Smithsonian purchased another ca. 1905 Denzel carousel in 1967 and began restoring the badly deteriorated figures. Several of these were completed and put on exhibit in NMAH while the others were being worked on; however, funds ran out and the remaining figures were not restored. The carousel was to be housed in a permanent glass pavilion, to be designed by Charles Eames.

        “By 1970, the Cathedral’s carousel had been replaced by one privately owned and operated. That carousel, a 40-foot Herschell-Spillman (ca 1910), featured a Wurlitzer band organ. According to a Torch article by Jon Schroeder (no.5-12, Dec. 2005) in which he quoted NMAH curator David Schayt “[t]he current carousel was acquired in 1975 by Hunter Concessions, which continues to operate the amusement ride today.” Shayt said that it was built in 1945 and had been in Gwyn Oak Park in Baltimore. Also according to David Shayt, the 1905 Denzel carousel that the Smithsonian purchased in 1967 was given to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission.”

    • Sweet T
    • Tremendous concepts from the brain-child of Dennis Kelly, Chuck Fillah, and all the National Zoo Staff. Imagine … disabled persons being included, as well as school children measuring the carousel’s solar energy used! Fabulous!!! THANK YOU for letting the child in us be awakened.