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The St. Louis Carousel is a vintage carousel with 60 hand-carved animals located in Faust Park in the Chesterfield area of St. Louis. This original carousel was created by the Dentzel Company of Philadelphia. In 1929 it was installed at Forest Park Highlands. The Highlands burned down in 1963 and this carousel was the only thing left standing. In order to keep it in the St. Louis area, the carousel was purchased and dismantled by Howard C. Ohlendorf and then donated to St. Louis County parks in 1965. The St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission and the Faust Cultural Heritage Foundation raised enough money to restore the carousel and install it in a climate controlled building in Faust Park in 1987. Here visitors can ride this beautiful Carousel.

Faust Park was originally the Thornhill Farm that was owned by Missouri’s second governor, Frederick Bates. The estate was purchased by the Faust family at the turn of the century. The Fausts donated 98 acres of the farm, including the original Bate’s home to St. Louis County that turned it into a park. In 1997 the remainder of the estate was added to the park.

Carousels were very popular in America between 1880 and 1920. Skilled craftsmen hand carved realistic and imaginary animals and decorative pieces for the carousels. The first documented carousel in America was in New England in 1880.