Albany, Oregon - Historic Carousel and Museum, Part 2

I saw this painted at least twice at the museum: "This Carousel is run by the Heart and Soul of Volunteers".

I thought it was nice and probably true, because volunteers are always important for things like this. I didn't realize how true it was until we toured the basement.

Yes, volunteers help with the gift shop and as tour guides and greeters, but also, they carve the animals on the carousel.

Even if you do not know how to carve, even if you do not live locally, you can become one of the carvers and learn there, eventually helping to turn art concepts into carved and painted members of the menagerie.

So when the individual animals are known by name, each of those animals has a history. Someone has sponsored the animal, chosen meaningful medallions and designs, and many people have spent hours carving.

That is an important reason to tour the basement. Yes, there is historical information and display there, but also it is a living workshop for a fascinating craft.

Then you can see the animals in the painting phase upstairs, and return to the carousel itself and have a greater appreciation for it.

https://albanycarousel.com/

https://albanycarousel.com/volunteer/