Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany, Oregon

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Albany, Oregon · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Rail preservation groupOpen Wednesday to Sunday in winter; Sunday to Thursday plus Friday and Saturday evenings in summer

The Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany is a volunteer-built menagerie carousel in downtown Albany, its hand-carved animals turning on a 1909 Dentzel mechanism that took more than ten years to restore.

  • Restored 1909 Dentzel mechanism
  • Opened in summer 2017
  • Over 150,000 volunteer hours
  • Hand-carved menagerie animals
  • Watch carvers and painters work
  • Sensory Friendly Mornings

Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany at a glance

Hours
Winter (Labor Day to Memorial Day): Wed, Thu, Sun 11 am to 4 pm; Fri and Sat 11 am to 7 pm. Summer: Sun to Thu 11 am to 4 pm; Fri and Sat 11 am to 7 pm
Admission
Ride tokens sold individually; $10 unlimited ride bracelet from 4 pm to 7 pm
Train rides
Carousel rides on hand-carved animals
Seasonal events
Festival of Wreaths, Once Upon a Thursday, Sensory Friendly Mornings
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Young children and fans of handmade art
Best ages
Toddlers to age 10
Parking
Free parking throughout downtown Albany; more spaces two blocks southeast at Two Rivers Market

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Albany.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A whole town carving one carousel

The Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany opened in the summer of 2017 after years of work by volunteers who set out to build, by hand, what they call the finest carousel in the world. Their vision was simple: delight young and old, keep the art of carousel building alive by teaching it, and give the community a place to gather.

The project's turning point was the mechanism. The group had planned to buy a new one that would carry 32 animals. Then Bill Dentzel, great-grandson of Dentzel Carousel Corporation founder Gustav Dentzel, heard about Albany's effort and arranged for a 1909 Dentzel mechanism, owned by the National Carousel Association, to be donated. Restoring it took more than ten years. Lead engineer Carl Baker and a crew of volunteers rebuilt every wooden gear tooth, mirror panel and platform motor.

Much of the carving is done by people who had never carved before. The carousel lends beginners the tools, gives a short introduction and safety talk, and lets them start a first project. Over 150,000 volunteer hours have gone into the place, and the carousel now draws well over 100,000 visitors a year.

Animals, studios and a carousel that keeps growing

The carousel is a menagerie style machine, with a seven-foot giraffe, dogs, cats, zebras, unicorns, dragons, lions, tigers and bears on three rows: large standing animals on the outside, medium and small jumpers inside. When complete it will hold 52 animals, plus two replacement animals per row and five seasonal ones, 63 in all. As of July 2022 there were 41 animals on the platform.

Around the carousel you will find a small museum explaining its history, a painting studio and a carving studio where artists work on the next animals, the Carousel Cafe, a gift shop and party and event space. Tours run daily from 11 am to 4 pm, and a brick garden holds personalized bricks bought by supporters. The carousel does not describe a railroad collection, so rail fans should treat this as a craft and carousel stop.

Don’t miss

  1. The 1909 Dentzel mechanismDonated through Bill Dentzel and the National Carousel Association and restored by volunteers over more than ten years.
  2. The seven-foot giraffeThe tallest of the menagerie animals, part of the outer row of standers.
  3. The carving studioWhere volunteers, many of them beginners, carve the animals still to come.
  4. The painting studioWhere carved animals get their finished colors before joining the carousel.
  5. The brass ringThe carousel counts brass rings won by riders, a classic carousel game still played here.

Pick a dragon, reach for the ring

Kids get to choose their ride from dragons, unicorns, big cats and more, and older children can try for the brass ring. Watching carvers and painters at work shows them how the animals are made. On Thursday mornings, Once Upon a Thursday has offered free family crafts at 11:30 am.

The carousel runs Sensory Friendly Mornings for children who do better with less noise and crowd. During evening hours from 4 pm to 7 pm, a $10 ride bracelet gives unlimited rides for the evening, as of October 2026, which is handy for repeat riders.

Plan your visit: tips for Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany

  • Check the special hours list: closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter.
  • The carousel tries to open on no-school days and school breaks.
  • Spaces right by the carousel are limited; read the parking signs.
  • Tours run daily 11 am to 4 pm.
  • The Carousel Cafe and gift shop support the nonprofit.

Volunteers are the heartbeat

The carousel is a nonprofit run largely by volunteers, who serve as carousel operators, gift shop cashiers, cafe attendants and artisans. Visitors can help by volunteering, buying a membership, renting the party room, shopping the gift shop, sponsoring an item, or buying an engraved brick for the brick garden.

Train rides and rail museums near Albany

For a real train, the Santiam Excursion Trains run about 12 miles away in Lebanon. The Oregon Electric Railway Museum and Willow Creek Railroad Museum are about 29 miles north in Brooks. See every train museum in Oregon.

Every train museum in Oregon

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A carousel isn't a train, but I think the same feeling lives here: the music starts, the lights spin, and kids cheer. That's my favorite moment in our book, when Rally's train comes out of the dark tunnel into a big bright light and everyone cheers. These volunteers carved that kind of joy by hand. My mom would have adored the dragons. Our coloring pages are a nice quiet activity after a ride.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Albany Historic Carousel: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany?

The carousel is at 503 1st Avenue West in historic downtown Albany, Oregon, across from the US Post Office and kitty-corner from the Albany Chamber of Commerce. It is about an hour south of Portland and 30 minutes north of Eugene, right off I-5. Call (541) 497-2934 for directions.

What are the Albany Carousel hours?

As of October 2026, winter hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day) are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm, and Friday and Saturday 11 am to 7 pm. Summer hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 4 pm, and Friday and Saturday 11 am to 7 pm. Holiday hours differ.

Is the Albany Carousel open on holidays?

Some. For 2026 to 2027 the carousel lists Veterans Day open 11 am to 4 pm, Thanksgiving closed, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 11 am to 1:30 pm, and Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday closed. It also tries to open on no-school days and school breaks.

How much does it cost to ride the Albany Carousel?

Rides use tokens sold individually; the price per token is not posted online. During extended hours from 4 pm to 7 pm, a $10 ride bracelet gives one person unlimited rides for the evening, as of October 2026. Call (541) 497-2934 for current token prices.

Does the Albany Carousel have a railroad collection?

The carousel does not describe a railroad collection on its website. It is a carousel museum with a menagerie carousel, studios, a small history museum, a cafe and a gift shop. For trains, the Santiam Excursion Trains in Lebanon and the rail museums at Powerland in Brooks are nearby.

When did the Albany Carousel open?

The Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany opened in the summer of 2017, according to Willamette Valley tourism. It followed years of volunteer carving and more than a decade of restoration work on its 1909 Dentzel mechanism, and the carousel keeps adding animals as they are finished.

How old is the Albany Carousel mechanism?

The mechanism was built in 1909 by the Dentzel Carousel Corporation. Bill Dentzel, great-grandson of founder Gustav Dentzel, arranged for it to be donated from the National Carousel Association. Volunteers led by engineer Carl Baker spent more than ten years restoring every gear tooth, mirror panel and motor.

How many animals are on the Albany Carousel?

As of July 2022 there were 41 animals on the carousel, with more on the way. When finished it will have 52 animals on three rows, plus two replacement animals per row and five seasonal animals, for a total of 63. The count may be higher when you visit.

What animals can you ride on the Albany Carousel?

It is a menagerie carousel, so riders choose from a seven-foot giraffe, dogs, cats, zebras, unicorns, dragons, lions, tigers and bears, among others. Outer row animals are large standers; the middle and inner rows have medium and small jumpers that move up and down.

Can you watch the carvers at the Albany Carousel?

Yes. The carousel has a carving studio and a painting studio where artists work on new animals, and visitors can often see them at work. Many carvers started as complete beginners; the carousel lends tools and gives a short introduction and safety talk to new volunteers.

Does the Albany Carousel offer tours?

Yes. Tours are available daily from 11 am to 4 pm, as of October 2026. A tour is a good way to learn about the 1909 Dentzel mechanism and the volunteer carving program. Tour bus parking information is on the carousel's website for groups.

Where do you park for the Albany Carousel?

Free parking is available throughout downtown Albany. Spaces near the carousel are limited, so try the extra parking two blocks southeast at Two Rivers Market, and check signage, since some nearby spots have restrictions. The carousel's website has downtown and tour bus parking pages.

Is the Albany Carousel good for toddlers?

Yes. The small and medium animals on the inner rows suit young riders, the building is indoors, and the cafe and gift shop are on site. Sensory Friendly Mornings are offered for children who need a calmer visit. Free family crafts have run on Thursday mornings.

What are Sensory Friendly Mornings at the Albany Carousel?

Sensory Friendly Mornings are special sessions listed under the carousel's support programs, designed for guests who do better in a quieter, less crowded setting. Dates are not posted online, so check the event calendar or call (541) 497-2934 for the next one.

Can you have a birthday party at the Albany Carousel?

Yes. The carousel offers party room rentals and event space, and its online store lists bookings and corporate booking options. Details and prices are not posted online, so use the contact form on albanycarousel.com or call (541) 497-2934 to plan a party.

Is there food at the Albany Carousel?

Yes. The Carousel Cafe serves food and drinks on site, and its menu is posted on the carousel's website. The cafe can also cater; catering is one of the subjects on the carousel's contact form. Proceeds support the nonprofit carousel.

Does the Albany Carousel have a gift shop?

Yes. The gift shop sells a wide range of items and supports the nonprofit carousel. You can also buy an engraved brick for the brick garden, a small 4 by 8 inch brick with up to three lines or a large 8 by 8 inch brick with up to seven lines, to honor someone or mark an occasion.

What events happen at the Albany Carousel?

Recurring events include Once Upon a Thursday free family crafts at 11:30 am and the Festival of Wreaths in November, when the carousel closes early at 4 pm. A Kentucky Derby event also brings early closing. The event calendar on albanycarousel.com has current dates.

How can I volunteer at the Albany Carousel?

The carousel says volunteers are its heartbeat, filling roles from carousel operator and gift shop cashier to cafe attendant and artisan carver or painter. More than 150,000 volunteer hours have been served. Use the volunteer page or the contact form on albanycarousel.com, or call (541) 497-2934.

What train attractions are near the Albany Carousel?

The Santiam Excursion Trains in Lebanon are about 12 miles away. The Oregon Electric Railway Museum, the Willow Creek Railroad Museum and the Powerland Heritage Park railway collections are about 29 miles north in Brooks, and the Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society in Toledo is about 41 miles away.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
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