The carousel's shelter building is a rectangular building approximately 70 by 75 by 22 feet with board and batten siding. The exterior of the building is distinctive in appearance with a low, square, main block and a central section of octagonal roof with clerestory light windows. The clerestory is about 40 feet (12 m) in diameter and lights the interior. Inside the building, the original mosaic tile floor with a large snowflake pattern in green, yellow, terracotta, and white is intact.
Gustav Dentzel, from one of the world’s leading families of carousel makers. This carousel was built in the 1890's in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Meridian carousel was originally designed for the 1904 St Louis World's Fair. The carousel is approximately 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter, smaller than the time's standard two-abreast which was 42 feet in diameter.
Original oil paintings of museum quality decorate the top crown of the carousel.
It has 28 animals, two-abreast, and 2 chariots, providing seating for 36 people. All 28 animals on the carousel, including a lion, a tiger, two deer, two antelope, two giraffes and 20 horses are hand-carved of bass and poplar wood and have been recently restored to their original beauty.
The carousel was acquired by the City of Meridian soon after the 1904 fair. It came to Meridian in 1909 and has occupied its home in Highland Park ever since. It was purchased by Meridian for only $2,000, it is currently valued at over $1 million. The carousel can be ridden for $.50.
The building and carousel were declared a National Landmark in 1987.
Some information was obtained from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Park_Dentzel_Carousel_and_Shelter_Building
Attractions in Meridian, Mississippi and Around Town Carousels Abound
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