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Riverfront Park Carousel or Looff Carousel
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| Location: | Riverfront Park Spokane, Washington |
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| Nearest city: | Spokane |
| Built: | 1909 |
| Architect: | Charles I. D. Looff |
| NRHP Reference#: | 77001362 |
The Riverfront Park Carousel, also known as the Looff Carousel and the Natatorium Park Carousel is a carousel in Spokane, Washington originally built in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff. The carousel was a gift for Looff's daughter Emma Vogel and her husband Louis Vogel, who owned Natatorium Park in Spokane.[1] It remained at the park until 1968 when the park closed. The carousel was relocated to its present location at Riverfront Park in 1975 where it continues to operate.[2][3]
The carousel still contains its original 1900 Ruth & Sohn Band Organ, although due to deteriorating player rolls, a digitized recording is played during the carousel's operation[3]. The organ was manufactured in Waldkirch, Germany and imported by Looff around 1900.
The carousel contains 54 horses, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger and 2 chariots, all hand carved by Looff himself. It also has a brass ring dispenser that allows the outside riders to grab a ring during each pass and then toss the ring at a clown with a hole for his mouth. If the rider is successful in capturing the brass ring, he or she can turn it in to win a free ride on the carousel[4].
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