Hershell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round
Also known as: Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in New York in 1911 by the Hershell-Spillman Company, this sixteen-section, three-abreast carousel has operated in several California locations, including San Bernardino, Oceanside and Griffith Park in Los Angeles, before settling at Lake Anza in Tilden Regional Park in 1948. It keeps 39 original hand-carved poplarwood animals, among them giraffes, zebras, frogs, a sea dragon and a tiger. A fourth row of cast aluminum animals and an enlarged outer cornice with new painted panels were added in 1950. The original Westinghouse motor still drives it, and two band organs provide music. A wood-frame building with a 5,000 square foot lamella dome, designed in 1937, houses the machine. The nomination presents it as a fine example of carousel folk art from the era before mass-produced metal animals replaced hand-carved ones. It is one of only a few classic carousels in California, and an estimated five million riders have enjoyed it since 1948.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of carousel folk art from the golden age of carousels, between 1900 and the Great Depression. It is described as one of about five classic carousels in California and one of 16 in the western United States. Its social value comes from its appeal across all ages and backgrounds, and from the need to keep it publicly available.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76000480, listed September 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Berkeley in Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | September 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000480 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Hershell-Spillman Company (carousel); structure plans designed in 1937 by J. Wilson of the Los Angeles Parks Department |
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in use as a park attraction. It was altered in 1950 and moved several times; the nomination notes a dispute over its lease in 1976. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.90141, -122.25697 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76000480.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7802097
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.