95 Riverside Avenue
Bristol, CT 06010
Louise DeMars, Executive Director
Phone: 860-585-5411
Fax: 860-314-0483
email: info@thecarouselmuseum.com
website: www.thecarouselmuseum.com
Geographic Area Served: National

Mission Statement: The New England Carousel Museum is dedicated to the acquisition, restoration, and preservation of operating carousels and carousel memorabilia and the creation of new carousel material, for the education and pleasure of the general public.

The New England Carousel Museum explores the "Golden Age of the Carousel" and the colorful history and development of the hand-carved animals that have found their place in American's rich folk art history. The Museum, which is evolving into the Bristol Center for Arts & Culture, a cultural center for the Bristol region, also offers two fine art galleries on the first floor, a gift shop, Restoration Department, and administration for Hartford's historic Bushnell Park Carousel. Additionally, the Bristol Center for Arts & Culture features the Museum of Fire History on the second floor, displaying a wonderful and fascinating array of fire fighting equipment. A small auditorium has been created outside of the Fire Museum to present educational programming about fire prevention and safety.

In addition to ongoing tours of the building, the museum staff provides group tours, tour and craft programs, Spin and Learn program, facility rentals, educational birthday parties, youth group sleepovers, restoration, new carvings, and membership in the Museum friends organization.