VIDEO: Restored horses gallop again on Hampton Carousel

HAMPTON

Ten carousel horses are galloping again after being returned to their home outside the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton.

Their coats, dulled by nearly two decades of sun and weather, were fully restored by William Finkenstein and his son, Gabe, of Connecticut. They started reinstalling the horses Tuesday.

Finkenstein, who did the original restoration of the carousel nearly 20 years ago, said the work on the 10 horses took about three months.

The horses are the first pieces of the 1920s carousel to be restored in the current project, officials said. Forty more horses along with chariot seats also will be restored as funds are available.

The carousel, built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, was bought by the City of Hampton in 1985 and restored in 1991, according to the plaque that denotes it as a Virginia Historic Landmark.

It was operated at Buckroe Beach Amusement Park from 1921 to 1985, the plaque says. It now is housed inside its own heated and air-conditioned building outside the air and space museum. The building also features tempered glass windows and doors to help preserve the ride.

Cost for a ride is $2. For a schedule, visit the museum’s Web site at http://www.vasc.org/visitvasc/carousel.html.