Generations of Change: The Cheatham Family and Our Beloved Carousel
Generations of Change: The Cheatham Family and Our Beloved Carousel
“My favorite memory (of the Carousel) would probably be…
when my sister was making jokes and we were looking at the stars.”
Aleyah Cheatham
“My favorite memory of riding the Carousel is doing it with
family —having people on there with me.”
Alaiah Brown
Our beloved Carousel has sparked creativity, fueled dreams, and served as a core memory for many generations since it was built in 1917. For more than 50 years, guests of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from all paths of life have delighted in the magical—and potentially dizzying—caravan of more than 40 wood-carved horses, goats, giraffes, deer, a lion, and a tiger as they parade around to the oom-pah-pah, oom-pah-pah of a classic Wurlitzer band organ. It’s a highlight of any visit to the museum.
A Checkered Past
Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. Before we acquired the beautifully carved Carousel creatures, there was a time when the ride was limited—only a portion of the population was allowed to enjoy it. In fact, children like Aleyah and Alaiah’s grandfather Eric weren’t allowed to ride the Carousel during the first half of its existence.
The Carousel was built for an amusement park located adjacent to the White River in Indianapolis. Its original home—White City Amusement Park—ultimately became Broad Ripple Park. Many families enjoyed riding the Carousel while it was in the park—but only if they were White. For many years, Jim Crow segregation signs prohibited Black families from visiting the park. Children like Eric couldn’t ride the Carousel because of the color of their skin.
While reflecting on her family’s experience with the Carousel and the amusement park, Eric’s mother Ernestine told us, “It was just common knowledge that we don’t go (to the amusement park). That’s just someplace that we can’t go” She continued, “I was very sad about it. I felt everyone should be able to go.”
While at the park, the Carousel fell into disrepair. In 1956, the deteriorating roof of the Carousel’s pavilion collapsed, destroying the ride’s operating mechanism and scenery panels. The tangled metal and once-jaunty wooden animals were hauled away and ultimately lost in a storage shed until the museum’s director Mildred Compton embarked on a decade-long mission to rescue, restore, and revive the Carousel animals. When we opened our current facility in 1976, the Carousel was waiting for wide-eyed children whose only worry was whether they would ride a jumping horse or one of the stationary animals.
The Carousel was built for an amusement park located adjacent to the White River in Indianapolis. Its original home—White City Amusement Park—ultimately became Broad Ripple Park. Many families enjoyed riding the Carousel while it was in the park—but only if they were White. For many years, Jim Crow segregation signs prohibited Black families from visiting the park. Children like Eric couldn’t ride the Carousel because of the color of their skin.
While at the park, the Carousel fell into disrepair. In 1956, the deteriorating roof of the Carousel’s pavilion collapsed, destroying the ride’s operating mechanism and scenery panels. The tangled metal and once-jaunty wooden animals were hauled away and ultimately lost in a storage shed until the museum’s director Mildred Compton embarked on a decade-long mission to rescue, restore, and revive the Carousel animals. When we opened our current facility in 1976, the Carousel was waiting for wide-eyed children whose only worry was whether they would ride a jumping horse or one of the stationary animals.
A Joyful Present
We asked Ernestine how she felt the first time her family rode the Carousel at The Children’s Museum. “Just happy. Very happy,” she replied.
“Anytime you get the opportunity to do something that you haven’t experienced before,” Eric explained, “that’s a positive feeling.”
We recently brought four generations of the Cheatham family to The Children’s Museum to celebrate nearly 50 years of the Carousel being available to all children who want to ride.
“Anytime you get the opportunity to do something that you haven’t experienced before,” Eric explained, “that’s a positive feeling.”
“I was just so happy to have all the four generations
and that those under me could be comfortable
in coming and enjoying it so much.”
Ernestine Cheatham
We recently brought four generations of the Cheatham family to The Children’s Museum to celebrate nearly 50 years of the Carousel being available to all children who want to ride.
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A Hopeful Future
Although we have carefully restored and lovingly cared for our magical Carousel animals, the years have taken their toll on our iconic creatures. Our goal is to restore and preserve our wooden zoo of magical beasts so countless future generations will have the same opportunity as the Cheatham family—to ride, wish, and dream on a beautiful work of art.
We need your help to make this vision come true. Your gift to our Carousel Crowdfunding Campaign—no matter the size—will help provide the funding that will ensure that the Carousel will remain a favorite destination for both children and grown-ups as we ride into our next century as a museum.
Ride Into the Future
We need your help to make this vision come true. Your gift to our Carousel Crowdfunding Campaign—no matter the size—will help provide the funding that will ensure that the Carousel will remain a favorite destination for both children and grown-ups as we ride into our next century as a museum.
Ride Into the Future
