Carousel on the National Mall
by Emmy Marie Vickers
Title
Carousel on the National Mall
Artist
Emmy Marie Vickers
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Carousel on the National Mall,
Wow, I learned some serious Black History when visiting this iconic carousel located on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Thousands of visitors pass by and have ridden on this iconic carousel. What many, such as myself don't realize, is that this carousel has a history more interesting than its appearance may suggest.
"The carousel was originally built by the Allen Hershell Company in the 1940s for the Gwynn Oak amusement park near Baltimore. The machine represented something of a technical achievement: the only carousel made with the horses four abreast, all jumping. But that wasn’t the only thing unprecedented about the ride."
"The Gwynn Oak was originally a segregated amusement park that barred non-whites from entry. After a decade of nonviolent protests, the park management finally agreed to desegregation on August 28, 1963, the same day that Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I have a dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. On that day, 11-month old Sharon Langley became the first African-American child to ride this carousel, along with her father and two white children."
"Carousel historian Amy Nathan described in the Washington Post how the next day, “amid all the news stories about the March on Washington, there were also stories on Sharon Langley’s merry-go-round ride. Three kids—one black and two white—riding together provided an example of the harmony King spoke about at the march, when he hoped that one day black children and white children would regard each other as “sisters and brothers.”
"The carousel features brightly painted horses, a few non-moving seats, and one sea dragon. All are welcome to ride, as long as you’re willing to pay the ticket price of $3.50." Currently, September 2020, this carousel is still closed due to the Covid19 Pandemic. I look forward to going for a ride when it reopens. If ever on the National Mall in DC, be sure to stop by the carousel. Emmy Vickers,
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Thank you Administrators for the feature, support, and continuous encouragement. I really appreciate you and all you do!
Uploaded
September 27th, 2020
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