Chavis Park Carousel
Chavis Park opened in Raleigh, North Carolina on July 2, 1937. Named after prominent educator and minister John Chavis, the park was the result of a WPA effort to improve recreational options for black citizens, who previously had very limited access to city parks. It was equipped with a swimming pool, picnic areas, a professional baseball field, tennis courts, a playground, and at its center, a beautiful Allan Herschell Co. carousel. The site drew black families from all over North Carolina.
After public facilities were integrated in the 1960s, the park was downgraded and attendance sharply declined. The carousel suffered from years of neglect. It was restored in 1982. On February 18, 2012, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony at Chavis Park to launch a $2 million upgrade. Among the improvements will be a new carousel house.
The carousel is listed on the National Register as a historic landmark and is one of two vintage carousels in the city of Raleigh.
