Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster

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Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster (California)
Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster
Location: 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, California
Coordinates: 36°57′53″N 122°0′56″W / 36.96472, -122.01556Coordinates: 36°57′53″N 122°0′56″W / 36.96472, -122.01556
Built/Founded: 1911
Architect: Charles I. D. Looff; Arthur Looff
Architectural style(s): Other
Designated as NHL: February 24, 1987[1]
Added to NRHP: February 27, 1987[2]
NRHP Reference#: 87000764
Governing body: Private

Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster On The Beach Boardwalk is a National Historic Landmark comprised of two parts, a Looff carousel and the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, on the boardwalk at Santa Cruz, California.

Contents

[edit] Looff Carousel

Brass Ring dispenser and target on Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Looff Carousel in Santa Cruz, California The dispenser is visible as an arm crossing to the upper left, where a rider is grabbing the ring
Brass Ring dispenser and target on Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Looff Carousel in Santa Cruz, California The dispenser is visible as an arm crossing to the upper left, where a rider is grabbing the ring

The Looff Carousel includes a brass ring dispenser, which riders can reach out and try to collect.

Roof of the Carousel
Roof of the Carousel

The Looff family was one of the major early manufacturers of carousels, including this 1911 example. Only five other intact Looff carousels remain in the United States. The 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster is the older of the two large, wooden scaffolded roller coasters remaining on the West Coast.

The carousel and roller coaster together was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[1][3]

[edit] Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster

The Giant Dipper is a wooden roller coaster that provides a relatively gentle ride.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Santa Cruz Looff Carousel & Roller Coaster On The Beach Boardwalk. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  2. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  3. ^ James H. Charleton (October 15, 1984), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Roller Coaster ("The Big Dipper") and CarouselPDF (544 KiB), National Park Service  and Accompanying 3 photos, from 1985.PDF (312 KiB)

[edit] External links

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