The Carousel On The National Mall

Walking along the National Mall in Washington there is so much to see from museums to massive monuments it would be easy to overlook a carousel tucked into a shady area on the periphery.

Photo by me, July 2015.

I was walking back towards the Smithsonian subway station after a long, hot July day on the mall when I noticed the carousel. I didn't have much time or energy left so I took a quick photo because I have a fondness for carousels. I wish I could have taken a spin on it or gotten a closer look but it was closed for day when I passed.

I am fond of carousels because they are beautiful with bold colors, can have intricate carvings and designs, display a level of craftsmanship that is rare to find these days and they are a simple thrill ride that doesn't require you to be jostled by a roller coaster or thrown into the air at some insane speed.

This particular coaster is unique in that it features four horses per row on which to ride. No other carousel of this type has been built since that features four horses abreast that jump.

The carousel has been located on the mall since 1981 but it was originally built for an amusement park in Maryland. The Allen Herschell Company were the builders and they constructed this carousel in 1947.

Atlas Obscura has more photos of this carousel and a bit more on the history of it too.

See Ya 2015

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s a kid I was addicted to Take It Away, I had to even buy the single on 45 vinyl. I played a lot of vinyl or what we called records back in the 1980s. Hipsters had not come along then with their retro turntables, making some kind of poseur statement yet to sneer at calling vinyl a record.

The funny thing is, I've never been a McCartney fan, he's okay, but I was more of a John Lennon fan and still am today. After Lennon was murdered, McCartney was still relevant and popping out hits on pop radio. I can imagine that Lennon might have been just as successful if he had not been murdered.

The video is interesting as it features the famous actor John Hurt. Hurt is one of my all-time favorite actors. In the video, he plays his role with as much effort as he would a movie and appears to have taken  it just as serious. He tosses out a few smirks which I adore.

Maybe it's the saxophones or the trumpets or the smooth as velvet backing vocals, but this song is still a favorite of mine from the 80s. Hell, maybe I thought McCartney was cute when I was a child. I realize it is possibly strange now, but I definitely had a crush on John Hurt.

Anyway, it's the last day of 2015 and tomorrow we change the number to 2016. I guess it wasn't so bad a year. I walked the streets of several cities, saw some new beaches, climbed a few mountains, watched a lot of damn good movies, read some good books and didn't add too many wrinkles.

So, take it away!