The Winner by a Neck – Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Since the children’s playground in Golden Gate Park opened in 1888, there have been three corousels. The current jewel that literally glistens in the park is a 1914 beauty built by the Herschell-Spillman Company. With a whirl of horses, dogs, roosters, and other creatures, the inside of the carousel also offers painted panels that illustrate Bay Area landscapes.

The carousel is one that illustrates an interesting part of 12th century Arabian and Turkish tradition. Derived from the Spanish word, carosella (meaning "little war") real horses and lances were used to engage in a game of horsemanship and technique that was taken quite seriously. The game traveled across the continents, setting in Europe during the 1680s, where the act became a bit of a spectacle. Eventually, wooden horse contraptions were created for members of young royalty to get ready for upcoming tournaments. It was from this design that the modern carousels flourished, bringing in the "Golden Age" of the carousel from 1880 to the early part of the 1930s. At one time, more than 7,000 carousels thrived, but now only 300 of these beauties exist with a very special example residing in Golden Gate Park.

At first, the carousel was powered by steam, but when PG&E offered to loan an electric motor to the park, officials gladly agreed to pay the remaining expenses. Leading a well-traveled life, the carousel appeared as one of the main sights at the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island, and also entertained at amusement parks in Los Angeles and Portland.

The original Herschell-Spillman carousel showcased 62 animal figures, decorative benches, alluring picture panels, and even an organ. It enjoyed a long, continuous run until 1977 when a mechanism failed to work. Dubbed mechanically deficient, as well as lacking its initial visual appeal, the original carousel was sent to a restoration team for repair. Paint was removed and the surfaces received a facelift, as missing parts were carved anew. A German band organ was also installed in the carousel, which fills the air with an audio kaleidoscope of pleasure.