Herschell, Allan, 3-Abreast Carousel
Why it's listed
Built around 1916 by the Allan Herschell Carousel Company of North Tonawanda, New York, this 40-foot-diameter carousel carries 35 hand-carved poplar jumping horses and two elaborately carved chariots, one with a sea dragon and a Viking figure in an art deco style. It runs on its original wooden center pole, sweeps and machinery, with a new motor installed to meet safety codes. After years in an eastern amusement park and then storage at Seaport Village in San Diego, it was restored in 1997-1999 and placed in a new octagonal pavilion in Santa Barbara's Chase Palm Park. It was listed for its artistic value as a carousel of the golden age of hand carving. The nomination calls it one of the company's largest machines and notes that the outer-row horses show carving traits associated with Spillman Engineering carvers Daniel Muller and Leo Zoller. Original pieces removed during restoration are kept in storage in Oregon.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the carousel is a well-preserved example of the golden age of American carousel craftsmanship and of animal carving as a functional art form. It is described as one of the largest machines the Herschell company produced, with rare outside-row jumping horses. It is believed that only four park-style carousels were made by the company during 1915-1927. Its carving shows the influence of noted Spillman Engineering carvers.
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 00000363, listed April 13, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 223 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Listed | April 13, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000363 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1916 |
| Architect / builder | Herschell, Allan-carver; pavilion by Cearnal Architects (design) and Melchiori Construction Company (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operating as a public carousel since June 1999 after restoration; housed in a newly built mission-style octagonal pavilion. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.41513, -119.68575 (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 00000363.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4730685
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.