2024 Update: Jantzen Beach Carousel’s Progress

On a momentous summer day in 2023, our team here at the National Neon Sign Museum (Museum) in The Dalles was honored with the immense privilege of being selected by Restore Oregon to be the next stewards of the historic Jantzen Beach Carousel. Following our unveiling event that September, our team has been gratefully enthused by the galloping strides that these iconic horses have been able to provide to our family and community alike.

Just weeks after our announcement, Executive Director David Benko– neon fanatic and Museum owner– traveled across the country to attend the National Carousel Association’s (NCA) 50th annual convention. This experience was a vastly beneficial research opportunity, allowing our project to foster long-lasting relationships within the greater carousel community and develop a powerhouse catalog of resources for carousel operation and restoration. There was an abundance of highly valuable resources and community that our project was able to access and invest into. David has often commented how influential the convention was, not only for creating inspiration and a greater appreciation for carousels, but for expanding our vision for what the vibrant future of the Jantzen Beach Carousel will become. 

Throughout 2024, we have met, interviewed, and vetted several architectural firms, and are pleased to announce we will be partnering with C2K for the creation of our pavilion. The Museum has hosted several internal conferences and workshops with our executive board to determine the overall vision and direction, and how our team of growing volunteers brings this vision to life. 

This summer, we toured carousels across the Pacific Northwest, viewing projects that included carousels at Albany, Kennewick, Spokane, and Sandpoint. We developed relationships with the woodworkers, painters, artists, operators, owners, and creatives from these locations, learning more about the extensive and multifaceted processes that went into their respective projects. Each project had a different viewpoint on the operational structures required to successfully restore and revive these historic works of art.

One of the advancements that David has been most excited for has been the documentary-style video we are producing. To date, we have filmed more than 25 interviews with a wide range of individuals from Carousel legends to our talented The Dalles leaders. We have shot hours of content, ultimately among the material that will be edited into a 45-60 minute film.

This fall, we furthered our relationships with the National Carousel Association through their annual convention. Simon Benko, our media director, traveled to the convention where he fostered a collaborative partnership with the NCA, creating digital content for both the convention and the documentary project the National Neon Sign Museum is producing. 

The team has made countless strides in the advancement of restoration beyond research. In the last several months, our museum has spearheaded multiple volunteer efforts, forming groups across several different categories including woodworking, painting, mechanics, and fundraising. We have begun hosting volunteer meetings and workshops at the Museum; our team has distributed and printed over 125 volunteer packets, an effort that would not be possible without faithful supporters in our community.

We are currently in the final stage of finishing our lower level “Argon Education Center” at the Museum where we will be housing multiple classrooms, a working neon shop with demonstrations, and– most importantly– a carousel restoration station with live painting. It is important for the public and community to become actively involved and invested in this restorative artform, and we want our patrons to have the opportunity of witnessing the progress of giving these horses new life.

Most recently, David traveled to Los Angeles where one of the long-lost Jantzen Beach Carousel horses was located. Holly Starr, owner of the “pretty petite purple Parker,” had purchased the horse from the son of the attorney who previously helped place the carousel at the Jantzen Mall. Overjoyed at the prospect of reuniting all the horses under one stable, Holly has graciously donated the horse, rejoining what will again become the stampeding 82-stallion carousel.

The Museum has been immensely appreciative of all the support that we’ve received. We continue to seek support through donations, grants, and soon via the launch of our sponsorship campaign. A recent grant acquired from Oregon Cultural Trust will facilitate the educational programming that will accompany the restoration of the first twelve horses. Artist teams are being assembled for this program, and we look forward to sharing our vision for this exciting opportunity. 

Lastly, we are currently preparing to launch our capital campaign for the construction of the aforementioned carousel pavilion, keeping the Jantzen horses on track for a 100-year anniversary re-unveiling in 2028. The National Neon Sign Museum has a deep appreciation for this Oregon treasure that we have been blessed with the opportunity of advancing it; witnessing the old through the new.

 

For more information, you can subscribe to our websites at JantzenBeachCarousel.org, or check out our Instagram pages via @NationalNeonSignMuseum and @JantzenBeachCarousel

Simon Benko is the Director of Digital Media and Communications for the National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles, Oregon.