Herschell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round
historic place
The Herschell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round is a historic attraction located in Tilden Regional Park, near Berkeley, in unincorporated Contra Costa County. This classic carousel was constructed in 1911 by the Herschell-Spillman Company of Tonawanda, New York. Its early years saw it operate in several California locations. From 1912 to 1916, it was at Urbita Springs in San Bernardino County. It then moved to San Diego, and later to Griffith Park in Los Angeles. The merry-go-round found its current home at Tilden Park in 1948. In 1950, the carousel was expanded to a four-row machine, featuring both hand-carved poplar figures and cast aluminum horses. The Herschell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 1976. This designation recognizes its importance as one of the few antique carousels still operating in the United States, preserving a piece of early 20th-century amusement park craftsmanship.