The Kansas Sampler Foundation 
announced that Fort Leavenworth has been voted
one of the 

Have a Merry-Go-Round  Day!   
Ride a restored antique Parker carousel and tour the museum dedicated to telling the remarkable story of C.W. Parker, the "Carnival King".  Charles Wallace Parker made Leavenworth, Kansas the carousel capital of the world by producing more carousels in Leavenworth than any other city in the United States.

C.W. Parker brought his amusement company to Leavenworth in 1910.  A beautifully restored 1913 carousel from those earliest years, gives a unique ride to the young at heart of all ages.  The wooden 24 horses, 3 ponies, and two rabbits are all hand-carved.  In addition to the rare rabbits on this machine, there is also a "lovers tub" that spins when the mechanism is turning, and a 'chariot' is available for the handicapped.

There are two other carousels in the museum.  One is the oldest operating, hand cranked, wooden carousel, built around 1860 which is on loan from the National Carousel Association.  The other is a 1950 carousel with aluminum horses, built by Paul Parker, C.W.'s son.  In addition, many artifacts, horses, photos and letters from the Parker era are in the museum, plus artifacts from a third Leavenworth manufacturer of carousels, the Theel Manufacturing Co.

Special arrangements can be made for parties, birthdays, receptions, weddings, meetings and dinners. bus tours are welcome. Prepared teacher's curriculums are available to be used in conjunction with school field trips. They help make learning FUN!

Location: 320 S. Esplanade

Admission is charged. See www.firstcitymuseums.org. or call (913) 682-1331, or 1 (800) 844-4114.

Hours:
Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 am - 5 pm
Sundays, 1 - 5 pm

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