Coney Island’s B&B Carousell Recommended For Register Of Historic Places

Coney Island’s B&B Carousell may have charmed its way onto a distinguished list of historic landmarks.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that the New York State Board for Historic Preservation had recommended the antique merry-go-round be added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, along with 26 other locations in the state.

The carousel, composed of 50 wooden horses and two chariots, was first constructed in 1906. It’s even older than the Cyclone roller coaster, completed in 1927, or the Parachute Jump, built in 1939, which have both achieved landmark status, according to the National Park Service. The city’s Economic Development Corporation had the carousel restored in 2013, according to the New York Times, though on a visit this summer it appeared that some of the lightbulbs adorning the outside needed to be replaced.

Landing on the register will make the carousel eligible for public preservation programs and services, such as tax credits and state grants.  Last year, the rehabilitation tax credits helped New York homeowners invest more than $9.8 million on home improvements and developers spent $500 million to revitalized their landmarked properties, according to Cuomo’s office.

Other New York City sites recommended for the historic register are the Greenwood Baptist Church in Park Slope, the Hudson View Gardens in Washington Heights, as well as hundreds of commercial and residential buildings that will be added to Prospect Heights’ historic district.

“These sites are the locations of significant moments in New York’s rich history,” Cuomo said in a press release. “By placing these landmarks on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, we are honoring and preserving their legacy and giving visitors the chance to learn about this state’s vibrant history.”

In order for the sites to land on the registries, New York’s historic preservation officer must approve the recommendations.