I recently had a great conversation with a new acquaintance who is a wee bit obsessed with carousels. I’ve always enjoyed them, but I can’t say I’ve ever paid particular attention to them. I’ve probably spent about the average amount of time riding and admiring them, and we even made the cover of the New York Times Style Section once while riding the Carousel during the Prospect Park Gala. But I was thinking about them as a ride. You know. Around and around you go. No big deal. But my new friend made me see that what they really are are moving works of art. That changed everything!

So today, we’re taking a look at some of the more artful carousels around the world. Thanks to G for opening my eyes to the wonder of carousels!

First up is the carousel which I have probably ridden on the most, NYC’s Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park. As gorgeous as the diaphanous translucent sea creatures are during the day, it’s at night that this attraction really shines!

Next is the similarly-themed but much more intense Carrousel des Mondes Marins in Nantes, France. This is one of my faves because it’s a steampunk-styled attraction. I’d love to see it in person!

Next up is the Carrousel de la Cité Carcassonne, in Carcassonne France. It’s a double-decker!

Now, let’s look at the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, Colorado. It was built using the innards and gears from a 1910 carousel from Utah. The animal carvings are all recent, carved by local Vietnam vets. I love this idea!

Here’s another I’d truly love to see in person, the Cullen Family Carousel located at the Detroit Zoo in Michigan. The riverfront ride features creatures indigenous to the waterway, including herons, ducks, snails, walleye, and a stunning river monster.

This is another carousel I’ve ridden a number of times and always enjoyed. It’s the famous Bug Carousel (about which I have written before) at New York’s Bronx Zoo.

The next carousel made the list more because of where it is than what it is. This is the Tiovivo Le Manége d’Andrea con el Acueducto in Segovia, Spain. The ride is located right next to a famous Roman Aqueduct!

Next up is the world’s largest indoor carousel at Wisconsin’s famous House on the Rock, an eclectic museum and art installation. The carousel is surrounded by weird angel-like creatures and hundreds of automatons. It’s like a very aggressive “It’s a Small World After All” ride.

This next one is located in Albany, Oregon, and it’s known as the carousel that saved a town. While most of the carousels featured here are old, this one was erected just a few years ago. All the fanciful animals were hand carved by local volunteers, most who had never carved anything in their lives before.